Children 'need more teaching on cancer causes'

Most children don't realise that sunburn
can cause cancer 

Children are unaware of what causes cancer, with a small number believing they can get it from behaving badly, suggests a poll by Macmillan Cancer Support.

The survey of 500 children aged nine to 16-years-old found that 97% do not know that sunburn can cause cancer - although 91% do know smoking causes it.

The charity says the results suggest children are ill-informed about cancer.

Teachers need to educate school children on cancer, it adds.

The children who responded to the poll also do not appear to know what it means to have cancer.

One in five think it is always fatal, while more than half say they do not know what it is.

And 4% even think cancer can be caught from someone else.