THE Magic Eye Scanner Appeal has had a head start thanks to the sale of designer baseball caps.

And volunteers have now begun selling Christmas cards to boost the appeal.

The Reebok caps and cards have been put on sale at outlets across East Lancashire, with all proceeds going to boost the appeal for a cancer scanner.

The Witton Pub in Redlam is one of the first pubs to start selling the caps and will be opening on the day of the Magic Eye walk, October 13, to sell soft drinks and welcome weary wanderers.

Landlady Amy Lawrenson said the caps were "very popular".

"At the end of the day the caps are half price at least so they are going really quickly. People really like them.

"It is all about everyone doing their bit to get a scanner which will help put East Lancashire on the map when it comes to the treatment of cancer."

The Griffin Inn Pub in Griffin Street and the Woodlands Hotel in Preston New Road have also put the caps up for sale.

They are available in navy and beige and have a small Magic Eye pin badge.

They are priced £5 and are available from today at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph office in High Street, Blackburn and will be on sale in some pubs on the day of the walk.

For people preparing for the festive season, Magic Eye Christmas cards are also on sale from today from Queens Park Hospital and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph head office.

The cards feature a scenic snow scene around Pendle Hill by Colne-born artist Keith Melling. They are priced £3.50 for a pack of ten and all proceeds go to the appeal.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Appeal aims to raise £200,000 for a state-of-the-art ultrasound endoscopic scanner.

The equipment will benefit the whole of East Lancashire by offering quicker and less traumatic diagnosis of stomach and oesophagus cancer.

Hundreds of people have entered our fund-raising walks in Blackburn, Hyndburn, Clitheroe, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale but more fund-raising volunteers are still needed.