MUCH is said about the power of television -- the way in which bad language and violence rubs on to society.

So it is refreshing to see that the influence of the small screen can rub off in a positive way.

Coronation Street's storyline in which the character Alma, played by Amanda Barrie, was killed off by cancer was criticised heavily for scaremongering.

Experts worried that it would put women off going for cervical cancer tests.

Instead, the opposite has been true. Staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital are having to work overtime to cope with a 47 per cent rise in the number of women booking tests.

While this has increased the workload for staff, it is excellent to see awareness has been raised on such an important issue.