THE Mayor and Mayoress of Taunton Deane, Cllr Ken Hayward and his wife Mary, reinforced their support for cancer charity SURE when they visited the recent Taunton Flower Show in Vivary Park.

SURE - Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment - is one of the Mayor's chosen charities for his year in office, along with the NSPCC.

The Mayor and Mayoress visited the Sparkles stall run by Margaret Harper who specialises in hand-made jewellery as her profits at the show were going to the appeal.

The charity is raising money for equipment at the new oncology unit being built at Musgrove Park Hospital.

Supporters have already passed the £500,000 milestone.

This week's donations have taken the appeal's grand total up to £73,104 - the total amount since the County Gazette joined forces with SURE.

Mr and Mrs Mountfore donated £10, Mr and Mrs Wooley, £46 and Mr and Mrs Bacon, £47.

Fundraisers have so far collected over £500,000 towards providing a scanner, simulator and other equipment for a mask-making room at the new unit.