MORE than £5,000 was raised last week for County Gazette-backed charity Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment (SURE), which equips the Beacon Centre cancer unit at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital.

Among the donations was £1,982 from Alice Alger-Green who organised a masquerade ball at the Cooper Associates County Ground, in Taunton.

There was £1,800 from the Queen's College Taunton Lodge of the Masons and £1,000 from Bridgwater Blake Probus Club, representing the balance of funds following the closure of the club.

Donations of 5p coins included £50 from Kathleen Else and the people of Porlock; £17.50 from the One Stop Shop, Galmington; £6.63 from the Winchester Arms, Trull; and two anonymous donations of £5 and £3.75.

Knighton Berry gave £14.47 in 1ps and 2ps; left at the Beacon Centre was £67.85 in 5ps from Geoffrey Ronson of Wrantage; and Patrick and Elizabeth Scribbans, of Minehead, saved £102 in £2 coins.

A collection pot raised £4.93 at the Crusty Cob Bakery, Burnham-on-Sea; there was £39.50 from Dennis Emmett, of Bridgwater; £6.70 from Mrs E. Bennetts, of North Petherton; £13,52 from Mr L. W. Matcham, of Taunton; and from the Beacon Centre £75.90 in 5ps.

The week's total of £5,189.75 means the total raised since SURE and the Gazette linked up stands at £762,724.85.