The introduction of breast reconstruction at Kettering General Hospital's treatment centre means women will no longer need to travel to Leicester or Nottingham for the operation.

Kettering General Hospital's lead breast surgeon, Mr Robert Stewart, said: "Every year more than 200 women are diagnosed and undergo treatment for breast cancer at Kettering.

"Of these about 80 may require mastectomy as part of their treatment and a proportion of these would be suitable for reconstructive surgery.

"So far, these patients have had to travel if they have required the specialist surgery involved in reconstruction."

In January the trust set up a pilot project to assess the feasibility of offering breast reconstruction surgery at the hospital.

The pilot was led by Thangasamy Sankar, a plastic surgeon from Leicester Royal Infirmary, and assisted by Assyl Alabassi, a breast surgeon based at the Kettering Hospital.

Mr Stewart said: "So far we have carried out eight breast reconstructions for women who are being treated for cancer.

"The pilot service has been very successful. The trust has now agreed to establish a permanent service at Kettering later this year."

Mr Sankar and Miss Alabassi will continue to provide the service as it is at the moment.

However, the hospital plans to appoint a permanent plastic surgeon, specialising in breast reconstruction, later this year.

Ann Rager, 59, of King's Cliffe, was one of the first patients to benefit from the new service.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer on June 5 and underwent a mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction operation on July 1.

She said: "I had a routine mammogram and was recalled for further tests.

"I had a biopsy which confirmed I had cancer in my right breast. On the same day I spoke to the breast care nurses, about what that meant and what options I had.

"I was terrified when I found out I would need a mastectomy but the whole team helped me to absorb and cope with this very difficult news.

"I decided I would like breast reconstruction at the same time as the operation and I was glad it was on offer for me in Kettering – it would have been much more stressful to have to travel elsewhere.

"The skill of the surgeons was fantastic. I have had my breast successfully reconstructed using muscle from my back.

"The whole service at Kettering General Hospital has been first class and very efficient and comforting."