A new health campaign is the first in the UK to show stark images of real women's breasts affected by cancer.

Scot actress Elaine C Smith, whose mother died from breast cancer, is fronting the awareness-raising campaign.

Television adverts will feature her holding up a series of placards showing breasts displaying symptoms of the disease with the message that "lumps are not the only sign of cancer".

Elaine said: "For some, the campaign might be shocking but as far as I'm concerned, if this saves one life, it is absolutely worth it."

And she said she was "delighted to have been asked to front this ground-breaking campaign".

It is part of a £30 million Scottish Government initiative to increase the number of cases of cancer detected early by 25%.

Smith said: "For too many years women have been confused and scared about what to look for. This campaignshould inform people about some of the signs and encourage them to seek help.

"If my mum had seen this campaign she would perhaps have visited the doctor and been checked earlier."

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Women can often be confused about what to look for and it is important we get the message across that it's not just lumps that can be a sign of breast cancer.

"More lives can be saved through earlier detection, as it can be treated earlier when it is less aggressive and treatment is more likely to be successful."

Ms Sturgeon met breast cancer survivors Jennifer Gossman and Alison Walker at the campaign launch .

Grandmother-of-two Mrs Gossman, 64, from West Kilbride, spotted a change in her breast three years ago.

A routine mammogram a few months earlier had given her the all-clear but then she noticed some crusting around one of her nipples. She had surgery to remove a tumour, as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She said: "I'm so glad I acted on what I found as soon as possible."

Miss Walker, from Edinburgh, noticed a discharge from her nipple four years ago and was found to have stage one breast cancer.

She had surgery to remove a tumour and the area around it, and radiotherapy.

Audrey Birt, chairwoman of the Scottish Cancer Coalition and director of Breakthrough Breast Cancer in Scotland, said: "Detecting breast cancer early improves the chances of successful treatment. This means knowing what your breasts look and feel like normally, being on the lookout for any unusual changes and getting them checked out.

"Lumps are vital but there are other important signs such as changes in size, shape, texture and discharge."

The Scottish Government recently announced NHS funding of £12m to upgrade equipment for breast cancer screening.