AN MP candidate for the new Bridgwater constituency has pledged her support to a local cancer treatment fundraiser group.

Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment (S.U.R.E) has raised more than £5 million to buy the latest radiotherapy equipment for the Beacon Centre, at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

The charity was set up, as originally cancer patients from the area had to travel to Bristol for radiotherapy, and the arduous nature of these long trips, which sometimes had to be made daily, put some off from continuing treatment.

Claire Sully, Liberal Democrat MP candidate for Bridgwater, met Gail Wills, a North Petherton resident, and fundraiser for S.U.R.E, at an event at Victoria Park Bowling Club in Bridgwater.

Ms Sully said that the chance meeting with the local charity fundraiser showed her how important access to local care is for cancer sufferers.

Claire recently visited the Beacon Centre at Musgrove Park Hospital accompanied by Cllr Mike Best, Chair of Somerset Council and met Jo Penman, head of radiotherapy at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, who took her on a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities at the centre and talked through the treatment pathway.

Claire and Cllr Best were also joined by department head Steve McCormack, S.U.R.E. Chair of Trustees Paul Alway, and Gail Wills.