A MAJOR sun awareness campaign is being launched in Southampton in a bid to reduce the rate of skin cancer in the city.

The incidence rate of melanoma is above the national average in the city and skin cancer specialists from Southampton University Hospitals Trust are launching the awareness initiative in conjunction with European Melanoma Day and Sun Awareness Week, beginning on May 12.

Southampton Football Club has also become involved in the campaign, which will take the format of a poster competition, by donating the main prize of a signed football and a family ticket for a tour around the ground.

The posters will depict images that illustrate the Sun Smart message - don't burn, protect children, cover up, seek the shade between 11am and 3pm and use sunscreen of at least sun protection factor 15.

Members of the public will need to examine the posters and complete the answers on the forms provided at various competition locations.

Entrants will be asked to put their completed forms into the box provided and the prize draw will take place at the end of June.

Denise Hancock, clinical nurse specialist skin cancer and melanoma for the trust, said: "By working together we can beat skin cancer, the most common cancer we see in the UK.

"It is important because it is estimated that increasing numbers of people will have a skin cancer during their lifetime and many more will have problems due to sun damage.

"Learning how to enjoy the sun without damaging yourself is the key to avoiding skin cancer in the future."

Locations taking part in the competition are: Lymington Hospital Outpatients; Hythe Hos-pital Outpatients; Paediatric Outpatients South-ampton General; Royal South Hants Out-patients; Central Health Clinic; Woolston Health Clinic; Aldermoor Health Centre; Cheviot Rd Health Centre; Totton Health Centre and Shirley Health Centre