GLOOMY weather didn't dampen the spirits of competitors at Great Harwood Golf Club when around 100 keen golfers swung into action for Captain's Day in aid of the Magic Eye Scanner Appeal.

And thanks to the £3 entry fee donations, more than £300 was raised.

Captain Neil Crawshaw decided to link the Magic Eye Golf Tournament with the day's 18-hole golf competition because of a "great affinity to fighting cancer".

"My father died of cancer 36 years ago so fighting the disease is an issue very close to home," he said.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Scanner appeal hopes to raise £200,000 for an endoscopic ultrasound scanner which will benefit the whole of East Lancashire with the quicker diagnosis of stomach and oesophagus cancer.

So far £68,544 has been realised through donations and events such as the golf day.

The winners of the gold and silver Magic Eye medals were Gary Byrne and David Keeley, who now qualify for the final competition at Pleasington Golf Club.

Around 2,000 golfers across East Lancashire have signed up for the tournament. Miniature silver engraved claret jugs -- replicas of the prestigious Open Championship trophy -- will be presented to the winner of the grand final.

The men's final event is on September 30 with the ladies teeing off on September 23.