DEDICATED supporters of Colchester General Hospital have helped raise £25,000 for the cancer centre campaign.

The Colchester League of Hospital and Community Friends used retail therapy to help raise money for cancer therapy.

The cancer centre campaign, which is supported by the Gazette, aims to raise £4.5 million to build a new cancer centre at Colchester General Hospital.

The aim is to bring all cancer treatments and therapies together.

So far more than £1 million has been pledged but more money is still needed.

The £25,000 was raised at its shops, including the five at Colchester General Hospital and those in the Primary Care Centre and Essex County Hospital.

Bucket collections by volunteers also helped to reach the target.

Administrator Emma Moulding said: "Our charity exists to support the hospital and this is the major appeal at the moment.

"All our profits go back into the hospital and we are glad to support it in this way."

The Colchester League of Hospital and Community Friends has been helping with charitable work for the hospital for more than 60 years.

The basic philosophy is to help to make sure the best care possible is enjoyed by patients, visitors and staff.

As well as the shops volunteers run ward trolleys, a ward newspaper and library rounds at the Colchester General Hospital, off Turner Road.

If the money is raised, the new centre will be built on top of the state-of-the-art radiotherapy centre.

To support the campaign, text GAZE11 £10 to 70070 to donate to the Cancer Centre Campaign (or choose a different amount).

Cheques can be made payable to CoHoC Cancer Centre Campaign and sent to Colchester Hospitals Charity, Colchester General Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL.

Donations can also be made online at CohoC.org.uk For more information or to tell us about your fundraising activity, email Caroline Bates at caroline.bates@colchesterhospital.