VOLUNTEERS at Taunton-based charity Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment have been busy counting hundreds of 5p coins this week.

Donations to the County Gazette-back SURE, which helps equip the Beacon Centre cancer unit at Musgrove Park Hospital included £2.75 from Pauline Burt, £42.90 from Andrew and Tina Potter, family and friends, £5.65 from Steph Lawrence, £2.50 from Joan Shepherd, £68.50 from the Thursday Women's Fellowship, Wellington, £40 from Taunton Hard of Hearing Club, £30 from Taunton Bowling Club - all in 5ps.

There was also £128.62 from the Beacon Centre, mostly in 5ps, and £425.50 from Sheila and Derek Cleeve, from cream tea sales, and £4.50 in 5ps.

Colley Lane Truck and Bus Ltd, of Bridgwater, gave £350 from a work tuck box, while a fashion show at Rodney Stoke Inn, near Cheddar, made £351.08.

An ornament sale at Lin Keith's coffee morning raise £38 and regular social functions from the Residents and Friends of Ivy House, Wellington, came up with £240.

There was £500 from Lloyds Bank Foundation as part of tits staff match giving scheme following a quiz, £13.83 from Ritz Line Dancers, Burnham-on-Sea, and £219 from Marilyn Edlin, of Bishop's Hull, who held a coffee morning and plant sale.

A collection pot at Tesco Express, Lisieux Way, Taunton contained £25.22, while a bucket collection at the company's main store in the town raised £158.75, while Mollie Eastwood and friends donated £24.50 and Gill and Gareth Williams, from Burnham, donated £123.15 which was given to them in lieu of 40th wedding anniversary presents.

The week's total of £2,794.45 means £624,043.27 has been raised for SURE since it linked up with the Gazette.