A WORCESTER support group for women fighting cancer is to be stepped up after being hailed a success.

The Snowdrop Group, based at city's St Richard's Hospice, offers women with the life-threatening condition support and advice while undergoing treatment.

The group, which meets every fortnight, is the latest area being developed by the Worcester charity which has to raise £1m a year to operate.

The initiative is aimed at helping newly diagnosed patients come to terms with their shock and help and advice to those undergoing treatment.

Rachel Bucknall, care director at the hospice, said she was delighted the initiative had proven so successful it now met every fortnight, instead of its original once a month.

Snowdrop was started in 1999 after research by the charity showed young working women with commitments during the day were in need of a group which could offer support and advice.

"There were a lot of women with specialist needs," she said.

"They were often young working women with families, still getting on with life while coming to terms with, or overcoming the illness.

"Most were receiving first-line treatment to heal or hold the illness, which can be a very lonely experience, even with people and family around you.

"We ran the groups in the evening so women with commitments during the day could attend, get the one to one support of a specialist nurse or talk to one women in similar situations.

"It provides an all over service."

Ms Bucknall added women attending the class could go to aromatherapy and relaxation sessions as well as advice on beauty, cosmetic and clothing tips to disguise the illness.

"The groups help women finishing their treatment regain their lives and careers," she said.

"The majority of women go back to having a great life in good health."