The Yeovil Express and its readers have helped to give Yeovil District Hospital a great Christmas present with news that the Fund A Scanner Today Appeal has smashed through its £25,000 target.

The total now stands at £26,560, which will enable the hospital to buy a new scanner to help in the diagnosis of the bone disease osteoporosis and to create a resource centre for patients to find out more information about the condition.

The appeal received a boost when Majors Keith and Julia Johnson, of the Yeovil Salvation Army, presented a £2,367.57 cheque to Express chief reporter Steve Sowden following collections at three carol concerts at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil.

They then announced to the large last-concert audience that they would make their overall donation up to £2,500.

The appeal has been running for nearly 180 days and a huge number of fundraising events has been held, such as a sponsored walk, a cream tea afternoon, quiz evenings, bucket collections, coffee mornings and a charity golf day.

The Express launched the appeal on June 27 and the total so far raised means that about £150 has been collected on each day.

Yeovil Express editor-in-chief Ken Bird said: "To have surpassed our £25,000 target is a great achievement and to have done it just before Christmas is a perfect way to end the year."

Now organisers believe they might break through the £30,000 barrier with several fundraising events still to be held and pledged donations yet to be made.

Mel Hillman, corporate services manager at Yeovil Hospital, said: "We are grateful to all at the Yeovil Express for their support and enthusiasm in running this appeal."

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