PEOPLE in Wales are being urged to enjoy the sun safely this summer, following striking new skin cancer figures released by Cancer Research UK today.

According to the charity, people over 65 in Great Britain are around seven times more likely to develop malignant melanoma compared to 40 years ago.

The most recent figures show that on average around 5,700 pensioners are now diagnosed with melanoma each year compared with just 600 in the mid 1970s.

While age is one of the biggest risk factors for melanoma, the huge increase in pensioners being diagnosed with the disease is likely to be linked to the cheap package holiday boom dating from the 1960s and the desirability of having a tanned appearance even at the expense of painful sunburn.

This trend continues with today’s generations risking their health for in pursuit of a tan.

Every year in Wales around 730 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma and around 130 people die from the disease.

It is the fifth most common cancer overall in the UK and the second most common cancer in young adults (aged 15-34).

Advice includes wearing a hat and t-shirt if the sun is strong and wearing at least factor 15 sunscreen.