A mother who won her battle against cancer is urging parents to protect their daughters with the new cervical cancer vaccine.

Tara Gover, of Waterston, who recently received treatment for ovarian and cervical cancer, is glad that her 12-year-old daughter Leah has been given the vaccine against human papilloma virus, which causes 70% of cervical cancer.

Leah was one of the first Pembrokeshire pupils to be given the new vaccine, and Tara, a dental nurse who also teaches at Pembrokeshire College, says her daughter fully understands the importance of the jab.

She said: “It’s a contentious issue among parents, but I can’t understand why people are not letting their children have the vaccine, when it could save them from what I had.

“Some believe it encourages girls to have casual sex, but that’s a completely different issue and you should talk to them about things like that.”

Tara was 33 when she was diagnosed with cancer after suffering abdominal pains. She was told she had ovarian cancer after having a cyst removed, and following a hysterectomy discovered she also had cervical cancer.

She said: “It was a massive shock. It really turns your life upside down.

“It’s like a thunderbolt coming at you, and it’s been a horrendous nightmare.

“At least something good can come out of it if I can help get the word out about how important these jabs are.

“You think you’re invincible, lead a healthy lifestyle and don’t think it will happen to you.

“There’s never been any history of cancer in my family, and this was a shock out of the the blue.”

She added: “I’ve had huge support from my friends and family, especially my husband Matthew, Stephen Allen dentists and Fawaz Abbas my employer.”

“I’m been very lucky, I didn’t need any chemotherapy or surgery and just have regular checks now.”

Tara hopes to be back at work next month and is urging others to take positive steps to reduce the risk of cervical cancer such as regular screening, vaccination, and investigating any unusual pains or lumps.