THOUSANDS of employees from transport giant FirstGroup have vowed to raised £1million for Prostate Cancer UK.

The three year partnership between the charity and the company, which includes Scotland's largest bus operator First Glasgow, will result in cash being raised for men affected by prostate cancer, their partners and families.

It is hoped to raise awareness of the disease with FirstGroup employees, customers and the wider community and to highlight the support available from the charity.

First will also provide Prostate Cancer UK with valuable advertising space throughout its bus and rail network to encourage many more people to join the charity's campaign against the condition.

Fiona Kerr, managing director of First Glasgow, said: My colleagues across Greater Glasgow voted in massive numbers with many telling us they chose Prostate Cancer UK with family members they cared about in mind.

"We are looking forward to starting our partnership with Prostate Cancer UK in April and will be raising money and awareness locally for this important charity over the next three years."

Owen Sharp, chief executive of the charity, said: "This partnership offers us an excellent platform in transforming public awareness of a disease which affects one in eight men and reaching them early will make a life-saving difference.

"The fact FirstGroup employees voted for us shows how much men's health and prostate cancer in particular is an issue.

"Their support will also go a long way in helping Prostate Cancer UK reach its goals in building a movement fighting against the disease."

The charity was chosen following a vote of 25,000 FirstGroup employees in its bus, tram and rail companies across the UK, including FirstGlasgow.

More than £5.5m has been raised so far for previous partnerships with Save the Children and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer can contact Prostate Cancer UK's specialist nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383.