Passengers at a South Oxhey bus stop will soon find the shelter coughing at them – in an elaborate campaign to promote the early detection of lung cancer.

The bus stop in Hayling Road has been fitted with a device which senses when someone is approaching and plays the sound of someone clearing their throat.

NHS Hertfordshire hopes the shelters will remind people to get a persistent cough - a symptom of lung cancer - checked out at their GP.

Each shelter costs £1,200 to produce and install. There are four others across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Susan Haigh, from NHS Hertfordshire, said: “South Oxhey was chosen because our campaign is focusing on areas where we think people are at a higher risk of lung cancer – where lots of people aged 50 plus live and where there is a higher rate of smoking.”

“Compared to some other forms of advertising we consider it to be good value. Our advertising is supported by other campaign activity including billboards, posters inside of buses and lots of leaflets in surgeries and pharmacies.”

The scheme has been running in Doncaster, but Hertfordshire is currently the only place to use the coughing shelters.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the UK after breast cancer. More than eight in ten cases occur in people aged 60 and over.

Jerry Zapala, from Watford, was first diagnosed with lung cancer after developing a cough.

The 56-year-old said: “I woke up one morning with a terrific pain in my side, as if I’d been kicked. My GP sent me for a chest x-ray, and within a day or two the doctor called me and said I want you to go and see someone at the hospital.

“Although I’ve seen lots of friends and family succumb to cancer over the past few years I never once thought that I might die. I consider myself incredibly lucky to be free of cancer.”

The coughing bus shelters will be active until April 24.