DORSET County Hospital's Cancer Appeal is pushing forward way ahead of schedule with more than £700,000 now raised.

The Echo-backed appeal was launched in May and is seeking to raise £1.75million to support the provision of radiotherapy services at DCH.

The fund has now reached more than £700,000 thanks to a fundraising push in the run up to Christmas.

Supporters include 10-year-old Ruby Cox from Weymouth. She had heard about other people having their hair cut to raise money and then learned about the Little Princess Trust which uses donated hair to make wigs for other children who need them.

She talked to her mum who works at the hospital and decided to donate funds raised to the appeal, with the cut hair going to the trust.

With her hair neatly plaited, Ruby headed to Tahnee's Hair and Beauty Studio in Wyke Regis where Celeste Ealson cut her long locks into a short bob.

Celeste also donated her normal fee for the cut and blow dry to the appeal.

Ruby’s mum, Angela, a colorectal nurse specialist, said: "I think I was more nervous than Ruby as I was worried she might not like having short hair.

But thankfully she does. Ruby is a kind hearted little girl with a sunny personality and I am extremely proud of her for finding a way to support two wonderful charities. People have been extremely generous and Ruby and I would like to thank everyone for donating.”

Including all the money donated through online and sponsorship, Ruby’s fundraising total came to £1,150.

Dorset County Hospital is working on the radiotherapy project in partnership with Poole Hospital which, together with a legacy from Robert White, is providing the radiotherapy unit itself including the bunkers and two radiotherapy machines.

The charity appeal is funding a cancer outpatients' area on top of the radiotherapy centre and paying for improvements to the existing chemotherapy unit. Fortuneswell Cancer Trust, which is partnering the charity on this appeal, has already donated £200,000 to the appeal.

Dorset County Hospital Charity’s head of fundraising, Andrew House said: "We are very grateful to Ruby for working so hard to help the appeal and for donating her hair – we also think she looks fantastic now and is a great example to us all.”

Thanks to other fundraising events at the hospital and in the local community the appeal has reached the £700,000 target set before Christmas.

Work has now begun on site and will continue throughout 2017 with the first patients due to be treated by spring 2018.

For more information about the Cancer Appeal contact Rachel on 01305 253215, email charity@dchft.nhs.uk or visit dchft.nhs.uk/charity