A national breast cancer charity is being investigated after its founder paid herself £31,000, in breach of charity law. Wendy Watson, who launched the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline in 1996, has resigned as a trustee. Financial irregularities were uncovered by the Charity Commission, which has issued an official warning for "significant breaches of trust". Lawyers for Mrs Watson and the charity described the payments as "an error". Mrs Watson, of Derbyshire, founded the charity four years after she became the first woman in the UK to have a pre-emptive mastectomy. Five years ago she was appointed MBE for services to people with breast cancer. The pre-emptive mastectomy procedure was made famous in 2013 when American actress Angelina Jolie had the surgery. The charity was set up to raise awareness and fund a phoneline where people can speak to Mrs Watson for support and advice.

By 2012, it was raising almost £1m a year from charity shops in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Humberside and London. Mrs Watson paid herself the sum over the 2014-15 financial year. Trustees cannot be paid without permission from the Charity Commission, which regulates registered charities in England and Wales.After looking at the accounts the Charity Commission found that the charity was in "financial distress". The accounts for the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline for 2013, 2014 and 2015 showed it spent 6%, 3.4% and 2.8% respectively of annual donations on "charitable activities", such as running the helpline.

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