Chippy turns batter pink for breast cancer campaign

The owner of the chip shop in Norwich said she wanted to "normalise" the disease

A fish and chip shop owner who survived breast cancer twice has started selling pink battered food to raise awareness of the disease.

Shelley Plant, who co-owns the Family Fish Bar in Norwich, Norfolk, was first diagnosed with the condition 22 years ago at the age of 35.

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she has decorated her fish and chip shop on Silver Road with pink balloons, and has made a pink batter out of gel food colouring.

She said all profits from pink battered sales would be donated to charity.

Ms Plant said the pink batter had already led to conversations with customers about spotting the signs of cancer

"When I first had cancer 22 years ago no one really spoke about it, so my aim in life is to normalise cancer and to raise awareness that people do survive," Ms Plant said.

"Sadly there are many people that don't survive but the more we talk about it, the more early detection there is and the more chance there is of survival."

Every year about 11,500 women and 85 men die from breast cancer in the UK.

It is the fourth most common cause of cancer death.

Ms Plant said the pink battered food had gone down "fantastically" well with customers, although a few had said "oh my goodness, what on earth is that?".

She added that all items of food, including sausages and pineapple fritters, were available in pink batter and that the recipe had involved a "bit of trial and error".

The pink batter recipe includes gel food colouring

Ms Plant was diagnosed with breast cancer a second time four years ago following a routine mammogram.

She said that the pink menu, which would continue beyond October, had already started conversations with customers about spotting the signs of cancer.

"If you've got any concerns for yourself, go to the doctors," she added.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month aims to raise awareness and funds for people going through secondary breast cancer.