Readers are being asked to help raise £1.5m to bring the world of sound to thousands of people afflicted by acute hearing problems, many of whom are children and babies.

The Bradford Telegraph & Argus Listening for Life Appeal aims to help improve the quality of life for those suffering from profound deafness by creating a £2.5m cochlear implant centre in the grounds of Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The city is at the heart of a cutting-edge revolution restoring the sensation to even those who are profoundly deaf and thousands could benefit from the work.

A huge effort has already been made and around £1m already secured. Now the Ear Trust, which is co-ordinating fund-raising efforts, is turning to the generosity of T&A readers to help make the final push.

A Listening for Life Centre, which will be the first dedicated centre in the UK for the carrying out of cochlear implant operations, will form the heart of the whole campaign.

T&A readers have proved themselves in the past when it comes to helping bring advances in health to the district.

Achievements include the £1m Millennium Scanner Appeal, which brought the city’s first MRI scanner to BRI; the £1m Bradford Can… Cancer Research Appeal, which helped fund vital research in the city; the Linda Denbow Appeal, which helped kit out a ward for terminal cancer patients and the Toy Library Appeal to provide vital facilities for children with special needs and disabilities.