'Mad Butcher' battling cancer

Peter "Mad Butcher" Leitch is battling with cancer.

Results of a biopsy confirmed on Friday that he had an aggressive form of bladder cancer, The Sunday News reported today.

"It was like a bomb going off. I've been in shock," said the 65-year who runs a chain of butcher shops and is a tireless campaigner for charities.

Leitch was reluctant to discuss his illness but agreed to talk publicly to drive home the message of getting early medical intervention.

He said his specialist, urologist Robin Smart, was hopeful a course of drugs later this month would beat the disease because it was detected early enough.

- NZPA