Men across the district are learning more about their bodies as part of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week.

Keighley Cougar Academy players Shane Walton and Tobias Williams and Keighley town mayor Alan Rhodes kicked off a week of events in Bradford and Airedale today as part of the campaign, backed by the Prostate Cancer Charity.

The charity, which funds one of just six specialist prostate cancer nurses in the country at Bradford Royal Infirmary, has teamed up with district health organisations to raise awareness of the killer disease and tell men how they can spot early warning signs.

Community health workers were today providing health checks for men at Keighley Cougars training ground, Cougar Park, in Keighley.

And on Wednesday, at 8.30pm, the Turkey Inn pub at Goose Eye, Keighley, will hold a quiz asking punters heath questions as part of the charity's 'Real Man' campaign.

Airedale Primary Care Trust men's health advisor Merv Pemberton said: "We hope these events will help men understand more about this disease that is now the most common cancer diagnosed among men in the UK. We also hope to motivate them, if necessary, to take medical advice before it's too late."

Prostate cancer kills 10,000 men every year and 27,000 are diagnosed. But despite the figures, thousands of men over 45 do not know they have a prostate gland, what it does or how it can go wrong.

Community involvement manager for the Prostate Cancer Charity, Ali Orhan, said: "Too many men in Bradford don't realise how important their prostate gland is. For many it is a part of their body they do not find out about until things go wrong."

Bradford Prostate Cancer Charity nurse Zoe Amys, who will be giving talks during the week, added: "There is no screening programme for prostate cancer but men can ask their GP for a test.

"It's about learning about your own body and being aware of changes so you can go to your GP. The sooner prostate cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of surviving it.

"As well as raising awareness, this week is aimed at telling men about their prostate and what it does. It's not just about cancer. We want to give out as much information so people in the community can spot problems earlier."

People can meet Zoe, specialists, and people who have suffered from the disease at a Bradford Men's Health information session at 7pm at Shipley Library, Wellcroft, Shipley tomorrow.

And the Workshop for Federation of African Caribbean Elders will be talking about the prostate gland at 11.30am on Thursday at the Goldberg Centre, Park Lane, Little Horton. They will be highlighting the fact that African Caribbean men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men.

The events are free and open to everyone. For more information about prostate cancer call the charity's confidential helpline, which is staffed by trained nurses, on 0845 300 8383.

To make a donation to the Prostate Cancer Charity call 0208 2227622 or visit www.prostate-cancer-org.uk