By Rob Welham

    LONDON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Sunny weather during last public Bank Holiday weekend in Britain brought thousands of sun worshippers to seaside resorts and attractions across the country, as temperatures hit 26 degrees, the warmest day so far this year.

    But many may have been risking their health as cancer charities warned on Monday that skin cancer rates have risen dramatically in the last few years.

    BRITISH LOVE OF SUNSHINE

    The annual Southend Airshow in southeast England brought thousands to the coast to enjoy the spectacle of military jets and acrobatic teams. Indulging in ice-creams, drinking beer and eating sandwiches in the May sunshine, few took the precaution of using sun block.

    Despite warnings from cancer charities, few people heeded the advice, and instead attempted to take advantage of the occasional sunny weather to obtain a tan.

    English playwright and composer Noel Coward once summed up the quintessentially British attitude to high temperatures in his 1932song "Mad Dogs and Englishmen," describing his countrymen as "impervious to heat." Indeed, the British are crazy for hot and sunny temperatures.

    Lying on the grassy banks at Southend on Sea were topless men, and women who were attempting to top up their tans, some wearing little more than shorts and a bikini top.

    The only apparent use of sun block was by young children, who were liberally daubed with the protective lotion by parents who had little or no thought for their own protection. All shady areas were noticeably empty, as families packed into every available space blasted by the intense brightness of the sun.

    SKIN CANCER RATES ON RISE

    In 1977, around 3.4 persons per 100,000 were diagnosed with skin cancer. But this figure soared to 14.7 persons per 100,000 in2006.

    One reason often cited for the increase is the thinning of the ozone layer which once protected the earth from harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays. New Zealand is particularly affected by this thinning, and sun block is regularly used, even on cloudy days.

    Last year alone, the charity Cancer Research UK (CRUK) said that Britain's unhealthy obsession with the sun had resulted in more than 10,000 malignant melanomas cases, the highest on record.

    This figure could reach 15,500 by 2024, if people do not protect themselves properly from the sun, the charity warns.

    However, a recent poll indicated that the British public is skeptical about the advice. A survey, conducted for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), suggested that many people have little trust in scientists who are "always changing their minds."

    The WCRF says that the most important advice in preventing skin cancer is to cover up in the sun, particularly between 11 am and 3pm during the summer months.

    The World Health Organization estimates that more than 140,000 cases of malignant melanoma and more than 2 million cases of other skin cancers occur annually around the globe.

    Malignant melanoma is a cancer that develops from cells called melanocytes, which are found in the outer layer of the skin. Melanocytes produce melanin, a pigment that helps protect the deeper layers of the skin from the harmful effects of the sun. This pigment appears as a suntan but it is also a sign of damaged skin.

    INCREASING WORRIES

    Cancer Research UK is particularly concerned at the rising numbers of diagnosed skin cancer. The number of women diagnosed with malignant melanoma in the Britain outweighs men by over 700, with 5,600 women diagnosed each year compared to 4,800 men.

    However, more men die from malignant melanoma than women, the charity says. And the rates of melanoma in men have increased more than fivefold, whereas in women they have more than tripled.

    CRUK Health Information Director Sara Hiom said, "These figures show that a worrying number of people are being diagnosed with this potentially fatal disease."

    "With the rates of malignant melanoma in the UK rising faster than any other cancer, it's more important than ever that people are aware of the dangers of getting burnt, either in the sun or from using sunbeds," she added.

    The CRUK advises people to enjoy the sun safely by spending more time in the shade, especially during the middle of the day. It also suggests covering up with appropriate cool clothing, wearing sunglasses and applying plenty of sun cream of at least factor 15.