Across the country, supermarkets are joining the #OnARoll campaign to help catch the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.

The campaign will see various supermarkets print the symptoms of bowel cancer on toilet roll packaging.

According to the campaign, almost half of adults in the UK can't name a single symptom of bowel cancer, despite it being the fourth most common cancer.

Knowing the symptoms, and acting on them, means that bowel cancer can be diagnosed earlier when it is more treatable and curable.

But fewer than 40% of people are diagnosed at the earliest stages.

Asda is one supermarket that has joined the campaign, adding symptoms to its popular Shades and Just Essentials toilet roll packaging.

The retailer has teamed up with Bowel Cancer UK to include the potentially life-saving information, together with a QR code for customers to find out more, on its own label popular Shades and Just Essential ranges from early Autumn.

Aldi is also to add signs and symptoms of bowel cancer to all its packs of own-brand toilet roll, as well as Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose.

Symptoms of bowel cancer

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: (Aldi)(Aldi)

Deborah James passes away

The news comes at the same time as the sad passing of Dame Deborah James has been announced.

The cancer campaigner, podcaster and journalist was a strong advocate for bowel cancer and catching the symptoms early, launching the Bowelbabe fund which to date has raised more than £6 million.

She passed away on June 28, at the age of 40.