THE historic walls of Malmesbury Abbey were illuminated in a purple light to show support for people with pancreatic cancer and to raise awareness of a deadly disease. 

The iconic Wiltshire landmark joined hundreds of others around the world to be bathed in purple light as part of the campaign created by a range of pancreatic cancer charities. 

Although pancreatic cancer affects more than 9,000 people each year and is the country's fifth biggest cancer killer, the disease receives only 1.6 per cent of cancer funding. 

Bristolian and Pancreatic Cancer UK fundraiser Karen Ellison, who lost her husband to the disease three years ago, stood outside the abbey to raise awareness. 

She said: "My husband died of it three years ago and the fact about pancreatic cancer is that it is very unusual and less than five per cent of people survive and nobody knows what causes it and what the symptoms are. 

"We have got quite a lot of social media coverage which is great and obviously Pancreatic Cancer UK doesn't get a lot of money so it was nice when we had a few passers by asking us what it was for and saying how nice it looked."

Corston resident Teresa Coupland, who lost her mother last year, said the light display is an important tool to create awareness.

"My Mum Marie, who was a fitness instructor, died of pancreatic cancer last year. Purple Lights for pancreatic cancer is about remembering loved ones who have died of this terrible disease and about spreading awareness of the symptoms and the lack of research funding.

"I would like to thanks the Abbey for agreeing to light up the building to throw the spotlight on pancreatic cancer."