GENEROUS donations from a Muslim charity will boost the diagnosis and treatment of cancers in East Lancashire.

The Muslim Welfare Institute has given £770 to the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The money was given to the Magic Fund which was set up by hospital staff to continue the work of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Appeal to further develop the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Consultant surgeon and clinical director Rob Watson thanked the institute for all the support they had given the Trust in fund raising for the appeal.

The institute was set up in 1992 and is a registered charitable organisation based in Blackburn to work in the fields of health care, education and rehabilitation as well as providing emergency welfare and relief in developing countries.

It provides a voluntary assistance to the council's social services department in encouraging people from ethnic minorities to consider fostering and adoption.

Institute secretary Hanif Dudhwala said: "We feel this is a very small contribution on our part and wish the Trust and all involved the best in the wonderful work they are doing in the field of health care."

The money will be put towards the purchase of new equipment to further improve services for patients suffering from cancers of the oesophagus, stomach and pancreas.

The Magic Eye Appeal was launched two years to buy high-tech medical equipment in a bid to help save more than 600 lives a year and it raised a total of £382,521.