SALLY Taylor, the BBC TV presenter fighting the onset of breast cancer, has been buoyed by public support following the Daily Echo story.

Expressions of goodwill have flowed into the BBC including 100 cards and letters, several bouquets of flowers and many telephone calls.

It follows her interview in the Daily Echo on Tuesday in which she revealed she is soon to have a double mastectomy.

Sally, who was due to present her last BBC South news show yesterday before leaving for treatment, said: "It has been a real boost. I am overwhelmed, delighted and surprised and I would like to thank everyone for their support.

"I would particularly like to thank the people who have written in and sent cards. We will try to respond to as many as we can."

A BBC spokeswoman said: "There has been a very good reaction. People who have similar operations are phoning in to offer their support. Sally finds it all very moving.

"I think it shows the high regard she is held in. She is somebody who goes into people's homes every day and they want to support her," she said.

The spokeswoman said a deliberate decision had been made not to mention on air her medical problems. "Sally is doing her normal job in a professional way as she continues to be the news presenter."

In a letter to Daily Echo editor Ian Murray she thanked the newspaper for its coverage: "I was very nervous and apprehensive about the media reaction but I needn't have been. You treated it in a positive way which is so important for me and other women with the same problems."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.