Giving a loved one food hampers containing fruit can help them cut their chances of developing bowel cancer, an expert has claimed.

Nick Phillips, director of Bowel Cancer Wales, said that there are a number of factors people must bear in mind when it comes to fighting the onset of the disease and food is one of them.

"Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fibre, whole grains and fruit reduces the risk of developing bowel cancer," he stated.

The fruit in food hampers is only part of it, however, with the expert also noting that sufficient exercise is also required.

Mr Phillips suggested a healthy lifestyle in general is also required, with light walks helping to fight the onset of bowel cancer.

His comments follow a study conducted by the Michigan State University which showed that a diet rich in high-fibre produce can reduce the chances of heart disease and type-2 diabetes developing in teenagers.