A LIFE-saving prostate scanner is now in place at Burnley General Hospital after a £40,000 fundraising campaign.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle, whose father died of prostate cancer, led the appeal to replace the vital piece of equipment at the hospital.

After raising the cash in just one year and two weeks the scanner was bought in April and this week was in used for the first time.

Mr Birtwistle said: “It took time for it to be set-up and for staff to be trained but last week was the first time it had been used at the hospital.

“It was a brilliant day. It was a daunting challenge to raise so much money and I am amazed we have done in a year and two weeks.

“I didn’t think back then that we would be in this position now, the generosity of people has been amazing.”

Mr Birtwistle helped to fund the original scanner when he was mayor of Burnley 10 years ago.

Since hitting the £40,000 the target, fundraising has continued to buy a portable prostate scanner, and also a portable bladder scanner for women.

“The portable prostate scanner is for people who can’t get to hospital or don’t like going into hospital,” Mr Birtwistle said. “It can be taken out into health centres and doctors’ surgeries.

“The bladder scanner will be one of the first portable ones in the country, it will be absolutely fantastic.

“We’ve now raised enough to buy the bladder scanner, so that should be getting done this week.

“We then need around another £10,000 to get us to our £65,000 total to buy the portable prostate scanner as well.”