Generous customers have raised nearly £250 for a hospital appeal by simply donating their 5p coins.

Sandy Jordan of Jordans Jewellers in Dorchester has been another avid supporter of Dorset County Hospital's Cancer Appeal and wanted to do all she could to ensure cancer patients in the west have the service they deserve in a new Radiotherapy Unit.

As well as taking part in the Walk for Wards event and sponsoring a cup which was recently handed to the outpatients department at the hospital for raising the most money on the walk - just under a whopping £1,500 - Sandy's latest initiative went back to basics.

By simply having a bucket in her store and relying on her customer's generosity, Sandy raised a total of £214.30 in 5p coins with an extra £26.85 in notes and other change, giving a grand total of £241.15.

The bucket is part of the hospital's 5p mile challenge where originally the charity needed 90,123 5p coins to reach one mile and raise £4,500 for the Cancer Appeal.

Sandy's 5p coins works out as the equivalent of 76 meters towards the mile total and to reach the mile the charity only need £104.83 or 2,097 5p coins.

Sandy said: "We have been open four years and we just felt we wanted to give something back to the community.

"The hospital is so personal for everyone in Dorchester and we wanted to help.

"We've had so many customers coming in, both regulars and new, to donate to the bucket.

"We also held a free valuation day a couple of weeks ago and so many people donated to the appeal, it was lovely to see.

"There was a couple of ladies who kept coming back after collecting their 5ps for a while.

"The bucket was so heavy I could barely lift it."

Sandy added: "I would like to say thank you to all of my customers and to every one who has come in and donated to the bucket."

The charity has various 5p collection tins and buckets around the hospital and Dorchester and are therefore hopeful that their target will be met very shortly.

The Cancer Appeal is funding a Cancer Outpatients Department which is being built on top of the new Robert White Radiotherapy Unit currently under construction at the Hospital. It is part of a £9 million project bringing radiotherapy services to Dorchester for the first time.

To support the appeal or other projects at the hospital contact the Charity on 01305 253215.