VOLUNTEERS at Taunton-based cancer charity Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment have been busy counting 5p pieces over the past week.

Hundreds of the silver coins were among the donations received by the County Gazette backed SURE charity, which helps but equipment for the Beacon Centre cancer unit at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital.

Among them were £5.50 from the Ladies of the Trefoil Guild, £10.50 from Jan Tong; £37.70 from Tina and Andrew Potter, friends and family; £20 from the New Horizon Singers; £75 from Gail Wills and friends, of Wembdon; and £121.80 from the Beacon Centre.

There was a further £10 from the Beacon Centre; £27.23 from the collection pot at Bishop’s Hull Conservative Club; £39.79 from the One Stop Shop, in Galmington; £500 from S. Welland, from Taunton; £21.87 from the collection pot at Londis, Bridgwater; £21.79 from the collection pot at Wembdon Post Office; £30 from Mr and Mrs Harper; and £22.75 from the women at Boots the Chemist.

This week’s donations of £919.38 take the amount collected for SURE since it linked up with the Gazette to £509,280 38.