An appeal launched to help raise £1m to build a new cardiac support unit has raised more than £850,000 in just 12 months, with the help of the Bolton Evening News.

In February last year the newspaper joined forces with the Royal Bolton Hospital in a bid to raise enough cash to build a 10-bed unit for heart patients, and work on the unit will now start in April.

The newspaper adopted the Coronary Care Appeal 2002 as its charity of the year and published regular appeals and updates.

It also kept the campaign in the public eye with news articles and features on the work of the hospital and its current out-dated six-bed unit, and some of the personal stories of people it has helped.

And dozens of fundraisers boosted the appeal total by taking part in stunts such as parachute jumps, sponsored-slims, and golf and football tournaments.

Editor Steve Hughes said: “This is fantastic result in just a year and we are absolutely delighted to have been able to play our part in the community.”

Bolton has one of the highest heart attack rates in England, and there are not enough beds in the hospital’s coronary care unit to cope.

It is hoped the new 10-bed unit will be ready for its first patients by June.

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