THE wife of Inspector Morse star John Thaw, whose death from cancer stunned the nation, today gave her backing to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Appeal.

Actress Sheila Hancock urged local people to do everything they could to help raise the £200,000 needed to buy a scanner to ease the suffering caused by oesophhagal cancer -- the disease which killed her husband.

The appeal will provide local cancer surgeons with the only Magic Eye scanner of its kind in Lancashire, which will help diagnosis and give a clearer picture of the extent of cancers in the stomach and throat area without the need for an operation.

It will also go a long way towards making East Lancashire a regional cancer treatment centre. Today, officials revealed that more than £12,500 had been raised in the two weeks since the appeal, which will help patients throughout East Lancashire, was launched in the Evening Telegraph.

Respected actor John, 60, died in February from cancer of the oesophagus, after treatment failed to beat the disease. Sheila, 69, gave up work to nurse him at their home in Wiltshire.

Sheila said: "I fully support the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Cancer Scanner Appeal.

"As many of you will be aware, my husband, the actor John Thaw, died of oesophageal cancer earlier this year.

"I would support anything which makes diagnosis quicker and better and makes the process less traumatic for the patients involved and their families. If it can bring the service closer to home for many people and save them having to travel distances, then that has to be a bonus, too.

"I would support anything which could prevent others suffering the loss I have, and applaud the Telegraph for launching such an appeal."

Local people have got behind the appeal and have started to arrange charity evenings and fund-raising events across East Lancashire.

John, who was born in West Gorton in Manchester, was known to millions as the star of Inspector Morse, although he had already been the star of the hugely popular 70s television series The Sweeney. Sheila, who recently starred in EastEnders, attended the Baftas in April accompanied by John's daughters Abigail and Joanne. The couple were both nominated for awards.

She herself battled with cancer 13 years ago, and also lost her first husband to the illness.

Appeal co-ordinator Sheila Shaw said: "We are very pleased that Sheila Hancock has agreed to express her support for the East Lancashire Magic Eye Appeal, especially at a time when she herself is coping with great personal loss.

"Her courage and strength in the face of adversity are a great example to us all and her message is a great boost."

"The Magic Eye Appeal offers hope for the future and in hope there is strength. As we conduct our appeal to raise money for this much-needed equipment, I hope that Sheila continues to show her fighting spirit and that those in similar circumstances will derive comfort from her message."

John Thaw died on Thursday, February 21, 2002, with his family at his home in Wiltshire. His diagnosis and public announcement about the disease was made in June 2001.