A START date has still not been set for work to begin on a new cancer centre at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital because the finance has not been signed off.

Members of the Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment (SURE) have been eagerly waiting for news of a start date, as they have raised more than £400,000 to provide equipment for the centre.

However, the signing off for the work keeps getting delayed because all the parties involved need to all meet up to complete the paperwork.

This was due to take place last Friday, but was postponed because some details were not approved by the bank.

Hospital spokesman Mark Wall said: "It was all due to be signed off on Friday so that work could get underway, but there was a problem with the bank.

"Therefore we have to rearrange a time for everyone to get together again. We don't expect that to happen until next week, but we hope that it will all go through then."

SURE has been fundraising since the end of 2000 to buy vital equipment for the cancer centre that will mean patients will no longer have to travel all the way to Bristol for their treatment.

Earlier this year they hit the £400,000 mark and so the County Gazette joined with SURE to help them raise the final £200,000 they want to buy top of the line scanning and treatment equipment.

And the campaign is going well - so far £12,937 has been raised.

This week donations have come in from Molly Floyd, who raised £200 from an open garden event.

Martin and Heather Brey raised £450 from an open garden and Mr and Mrs Lock raised £230.