VOLUNTEERS at a cancer charity have been spending a lot of time counting 5p coins over the past fortnight.

That's because Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy received donations of the tiny silver coins from Smeatharpe WI (£45); Mrs R. Arkin of Withypool (£8.85); nine-year-old Jack Baker, from Taunton, (£9); Mrs B. Dennis, of Monkton Heathfield, (£10); Mrs Fogwill and friends of Creech St Michael (£45.10); and Claire Jones and family, of Curry Rivel ((£70).

County Gazette-backed SURE, which buys equipment for the Beacon Centre cancer unit at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital, raised £232.55 in 5ps out of a total of £253.45.

Other donations were £245 from Pamela Sellars, of Ashwell, raised from the first part of her 80-mile cycle ride along the old railway lines and canals from Ilminster to Chard and £250 from the Ilminster and District Carnival Committee.

There was also £10 from Mrs C. Hurman, of Fitzhead, £50 from the people of Porlock, £19.45 from the collection pot at Trull Stores, an anonymous donation of £3.10 in 5ps, and £17.43 from the collection pot at the Co-op Monkton Heathfield.

Patrick and Elizabeth Scribbans donated £102 they had collected in £2 coins.

The fortnight's total was £1,188.38, meaning £680,366.08 has been raised since SURE linked up with the Gazette.