Bullseye's Jim Bowen came to Fylde star's rescue

Sally Naden, who presents for BBC Radio Lancashire, has spoken of how she battled through breast cancer and was handed £8,000 by the former Bullseye presenter in her hour of need.

Now fully recovered, the Poulton resident told the Gazette how she was eventually diagnosed with breast cancer and told she needed a mastectomy.

However, because of the delay in diagnosis, Sally was told she couldn’t have a reconstruction operation on the NHS.

On the road to recovery after a stroke last year, Jim Bowen will be returning to the stage on the 27th April in Melling Institute and Grimsargh village Hall in May

Sally, a regular in the Fylde coast pantomime scene, ended up paying £8,000 to have it done privately – thanks to Jim.

She said: “I had to take a loan out, but needed the money upfront.

“I was on the telephone to Jim and he said: ‘The money will be in your account by this afternoon.’

“It was such a lovely thing for him to do. As soon as the money from the loan came through, I paid him back.”

Sally has spoken of her two life changing experiences - escaping from the Summerland fire on the Isle of Man, and surviving breast cancer more than a decade ago.

- Full interview in today’s Gazette