Over two thousand hospital patients in Sheffield are being studied after it emerged that there was a possible link between cancer victims and the working conditions in Sheffield’s old steel industry.

A study at the University of Sheffield will focus specifically on bladder cancer after it emerged that steel industry workers may have been exposed to chemicals that cause the ailment.

More people than average have been found to die of the condition in areas such as Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley, where the local average exceeds the national one by 50%.

The findings may lead to compensation payouts for the cancer sufferers if a definite link is discovered.

Amongst the patients is former draughtsman Dennis Bradnum, from Kiveton Park.

The 72-year-old, who was first diagnosed with bladder cancer eight years ago, commented “It will certainly be interesting to find out more about any link there might be with my history – I would feel happy to understand the illness further.”