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A cancer charity is to take to television screens in a bid to attract more volunteers to its annual fundraiser.

Marie Curie usually runs radio adverts to attract volunteers for its annual Great Daffodil Appeal but will run a TV advert alongside these this year.

The advert wil be in “direct response” format (DRTV) – meaning the ad will directly address viewers.

DRTV is used by a number of other charities with Marie Curie saying it hoped the format would be as effective for it.

Some £8.7 million is forecast to be raised by the appeal this year, kicking off in March - an increase of over £400,000 from last year.

To achieve this it hopes to attract an extra 3,000 people to volunteer with an extra 37,000 collection shifts available.

The 30-second DRTV spot will be voiced by actress Jane Horrocks, who will also lend her voice to the radio recruitment ad.

The Great Daffodil Appeal will run from 1 to 31 March and will take place across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.