Prime Minister Tony Blair has given his backing to an appeal launched by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

The East Lancashire Magic Eye Cancer Scanner Appeal aims to raise £200,000, which will help save lives and radically improve the treatment of cancer in the area.

Tony Blair said: “I very happily give my endorsement to this important campaign…

“I think it’s good to involve the local community in the NHS and the local newspaper is one of the best ways of doing it.”

Money raised will be used to buy state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose the types of cancers which are responsible for one in seven cancer deaths in the UK.

The endoscopic ultrasound scanner can diagnose them faster, with far greater accuracy and less trauma.

At present patients from East Lancashire have to travel to Liverpool to get access to similar equipment.

Kevin Young, editor of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, said: “This is a wonderful piece of equipment which will undoubtedly save lives.

“This newspaper has always had strong links with the community and the people of East Lancashire have an excellent track record in raising money for good causes.”

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