IT'S not your usual inflatable, but Southampton hospital’s giant breast certainly seemed to be drawing in the crowds.

And it was there to get an important message across - keep your mammaries healthy.

Inside the igloo-shaped tent were panels explaining the stages of the breast, from birth to maturity and lactation, as well as information on ducts, lobules, cysts and breast cancer.

Breast cancer nurse Catherine Walsh was on hand to answer any questions, as well as surgeons Ramsey Cutress and Vasileios Karydakis.

Dr Cutress said: “We want to increase health awareness of breast cancer, the risk factors, how to reduce risk as well as the importance of early diagnosis.

"For example a lot of people don’t realise that alcohol is a risk factor.”

This was the breast’s first visit to Southampton and comes just ahead of breast cancer awareness month in October.

It was part of the hospital’s open day, which included ‘back stage’ access to some of the hospital’s operating theatres and labs, the mortuary, the air ambulance and activities for families and children.