A CANCER support group in Bath has been given thousands of pounds for equipment to use with the new scanner at the Royal United Hospital by members of the Kingsdown Golf Club in Corsham.

The golfers, who raised £8,800 in a year through social events and golf days, decided to support the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group's appeal for equipment for the high tech Positron Scanner, in the hopes of helping those locally who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Ladies captain Pam Stratford said: "Kingsdown Golf Club members were delighted to raise £8,800 for local charity Bath Cancer Unit Support Group. With a charity golf day, a ladies luncheon, quizzes, raffles and donations, the members worked hard and had fun, raising money for the much needed additional equipment for the new Positron Scanner at the RUH in Bath.

"It is hoped that far fewer people will now need to travel to Oxford and Cheltenham for treatment."

The voluntary support group, which has raised four and a half million pounds since 1985, helped secure funding for the scanner in Bath last year and chair John Carter said this money will go a long way in saving lives in the county.

He said: "It is a staggering sum of money. That a club can raise nearly £9,000 is quite remarkable. I was invited to meet the ladies and men's captains over a year ago and they say they would like to raise money for us and it is quite unusual in that they both picked the same charity.

"It has been a lovely experience for me to visit the club and meet members and those organising these amazing events."