A TAUNTON-based cancer charity has received a £1,000 boost from an insurance company.

James Sipthorpe, who works at MS Amlin, was given the money to donate to a charity of his choice after he referred a friend to the firm who was then hired on a permanent basis.

James picked County Gazette-backed Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment (SURE), which buys equipment for the Beacon Centre cancer unit at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital.

Other donations last week were £2.25 given anonymously and £2.15 in 5p coins from Wendy and Bob Griffiths, of Burnham-on-Sea.

Jan Biddiscombe and friends left £40.30 in 5ps at the Beacon Centre, which handed over a further £83.35 mainly in 5ps.

The weekly total of £1,128.25 means £771,546.25 has been raised since SURE linked up with the Gazette.