EAST Lancashire will go dough-nutty tomorrow to launch a hospital fund-raising appeal.

The aim is to raise £1.5million in East Lancashire to pay for a revolutionary "double doughnut" MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner for the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

The East Lancs appeal is part of a £25million national appeal to support research into cancer diagnosis at the hospital.

Surgeons will be able to carry out surgery while a patient is being scanned.

The hospital treats around 3,000 Lancashire people

annually.

A range of doughnut-themed events will be held across East Lancashire. Area appeal committee chairman Bill Davies said: "East Lancashire people have always been very supportive of the Christie Hospital which has a special place in the hearts of many local people.

"With help from these individuals and local employers we aim to raise £1.5million to buy a state-of-the-art MRI scanner which could ultimately help save lives.

"Raising this money for future treatment and care is our way of repaying our debt to the Christie which has helped so many local people over the years."

Fund-raising will kick off at 10am in Towneley Park, Burnley, when a hot air balloon will be launched by celebrity chef Andrew Nutter and representatives of the hospital and appeal committee.

The event has been sponsored by local firms Fort Vale, Hartley and Hartley and Oddies bakers and confectioners.

Students at St Christopher's High School, Accrington, will decorate doughnuts and there will be a doughnut-making demonstration at Oddies Bakery, Nelson, from 10.30-11am.

In Clitheroe, Christie Bear will meet children at Moorland Nursery for a doughnut party, before going to a teddy bear's picnic at Winfields, Haslingden, at 2.30pm.

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