A charity appeal to buy a new machine to treat cancer patients at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) has reached the half-a-million pounds mark.

More than £503,639 has been raised for the Lingen Davies Action Appeal.

Lingen Davies Cancer Fund has launched the appeal and pledged to raise £750,000 by the end of 2016 to help fund an additional Linear Accelerator (LINAC) for the Cancer and Haematology Centre at RSH.

A LINAC is a machine that delivers radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients. The department already has two machines, but a third is needed to help more people receive the treatment.

For every £750 donated to the appeal a jigsaw puzzle pieces is added to a large jigsaw. Once the appeal reaches its £750,000 target, the jigsaw will be completed and its image revealed.

Liz Kyle, Acting Fundraising Manager at the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, said: “We reached the half a million milestone on 8 March and there are now 671 jigsaw pieces in place.

“Thank you to everyone who has donated. Every donation whether large or small is valued and will help us to reach our £750,000 target by the end of this year.”

Louise Killey, Radiotherapy Manager at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SATH) which runs RSH, said: “This is a fantastic milestone to have reached and means the appeal is already two-thirds of the way towards its target.

“Thank you to the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund for launching the appeal and to everyone who has provided so much fantastic support.”

To donate to the Lingen Davies Action Appeal visit www.lingendavies.org.uk or Text LDAA15 £5/£10 to 70070.