Work has started on a new cancer centre at Sidcup's Queen Mary's Hospital.

Cancer survivor, June Casson, 66, from Downham joined MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, James Brokenshire to carry out the official 'breaking the ground' ceremony on the site planned to host the new state-of-the-art building on November 21.

The cancer centre, planned as part of a £30million redevelopment investment by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust for the hospital in Frognal Avenue.

The centre is due to open in 2016, when staff from Guy's and St Thomas' will offer chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment to Bexley cancer patients.

Mrs Casson, who is a member of the Patient Reference Group which has shaped the new Cancer Centre, said: "It has been a real privilege to be involved in the development of the new cancer centre.

"I was treated for womb cancer 10 years ago which included daily radiotherapy treatment at St Thomas’ Hospital.

"I was travelling up to 90 minutes each way every day for a session of treatment which only took 30 minutes.

"This new cancer centre is really needed by patients in Bexley and the surrounding areas because radiotherapy is tiring and traumatic enough without commuting into central London for treatment."

The Cancer Centre will include two new linear accelerator machines for radiotherapy treatment, as well as chemotherapy treatment facilities and an information and support service for cancer patients and their families which will be provided by Dimbleby Cancer Care and Macmillan Cancer Support.