A LION-HEARTED call for men to get tested for prostate cancer was answered by 460 people on Tuesday.

The Lions Club of Reading was urging men aged 50 and over from across the borough to get their Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels checked at a make-shift clinic held at the Circle Hospital in Drake Way.

A high PSA level is the first indicator of prostate cancer and men packed into the private Reading hospital to take the simple blood test.

Dave Edwards, 74, from Caversham Park, decided to get checked after reading about the event in the paper. He said: “It is a great opportunity to get it done without waiting for appointments so I am very pleased. The whole set up is quite impressive and being free is very important to some people.”

This was the second drop-in clinic organised by Reading Lions after its inaugural event last year, where 500 men were tested at the Royal Berks and 45 were diagnosed with high PSA, while 20 went on to receive treatment.

Organiser John Mack came up with the idea after three fellow Lions died from the disease - which is the most common cancer in British men.

More than 400 new cases of prostate cancer are referred to the Royal Berks every year.

Although flooding meant numbers were down on last year, Mr Mack hopes the event will be an annual fixture and said: “Last year we didn’t know if we would even get 100 people and 500 showed up.

“We think that if we can save one life it is worth it - that is what the Lions are all about, serving the community.”

Visit www.readinglions.org.uk