The importance of exercise in bringing down the risk of breast cancer has been highlighted by women footballers who have teamed up with a charity.

The message will be promoted by social networking which will be used by the Scottish Women's Football Association and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The aim is also to let women know about the symptoms and the signs of breast cancer and the partnership has been named One Goal.

Every year in Scotland alone about 4,500 women are diagnosed with the disease.

Among women it is the most common cancer and it claims about 1000 lives every year.

Twitter will be used by One Goal for reaching out to players, volunteers and clubs for letting them know all about breast cancer.

Audrey Birt, the charity's Scotland director, said, "We are really excited about this partnership as it will not only help promote breast awareness to women but also the value of exercise for improving your current physical health and longer term benefits such as reducing your risk of breast cancer."

Maureen McGonigle, executive administrator at Scottish Women's Football, added that social media is being used as the key means because we know that women's football can create maximum interest through this.