Two people a month are dying from malignant melanomas – the most serious form of skin cancer.

Doctors revealed the scale of the health problem in Leicestershire as they set about trying to raise £50,000 for a scanner which can detect signs of the cancer early.

Cancer consultants at Leicester Royal Infirmary have seen cases more than quadruple since the 1970s.

In the past 25 years, rates have risen faster than any other cancer.

According to Cancer Research UK the rise is due to the number of people in their 60s and 70s who began jetting off on cheap sunshine package holidays in the 1970s.

They are more than five times more likely to be diagnosed with malignant melanoma than their parents.

However specialists at Leicester's hospitals are worried that the message is still not getting through to younger people.

Leicestershire doctors say they are seeing more and more patients in the 25-34 age group with suspected cancer due to repeated sunburn.

A campaign was launched this week to raise at least £50,000 to buy a mole scanner.

If not caught early, melanomas can grow down deeper into the skin where it could reach the lymph glands, affecting the immune system.

Dr Graham Johnston, head of dermatology at Leicester's hospitals, said 90% of people who had a cancerous mole 1mm deep removed were still alive five years after diagnosis.

But just half of those with malignant melanomas 50mm, or more than an inch deep, survived five years.

He said: "This modern technology will help us quickly spot any change in a mole, which could develop into a melanoma."

The scanner campaign has the backing of Leicester City footballing legend Alan Birchenall who had a mole removed from his cheek a few years ago.

He said: "It was devastating to be told it was cancerous."

Doctors at Leicester Royal Infirmary see 30,000 potential skin cancer patients a year.

Of these, 2,000 are urgent referrals and about 150 turn out to have malignant melanoma.

Caroline Cerny, SunSmart manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "Skin cancer is predicted to become the fourth most common cancer for men and for women in the UK by 2024."

Fund-raisers are hoping to raise £4,000 towards a new scanner with a raffle to be drawn by Leicestershire golfer Gary Wolstenholme later this month .

Coalville charity, the Brown Dog Foundation, also hopes to raise £50,000 towards it by attempting to climb eight Lake District peaks in 14 hours in June.