CANCER care topped the bill at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. And it was a "reet good do", too, according to the deputy director of fund-raising for Victoria Hospital's Macmillan Windmill Appeal, Elaine Fossett.

The great and the good of the Fylde coast packed the Paradise Room to enjoy an audience with Danny La Rue in aid of the new cancer unit destined for the hospital.

"Of the £2.9 million needed our total now stands at £725,000," said Elaine.

She added: "There's no better way to raise funds" as Danny took to the stage with his old panto pal John Inman to entertain with a medley of showtunes including Who's Your Lady Friend and Bye Bye Blackbird.

Danny then auctioned off a festive doll he affectionately called Liz Hurley for £74 -- "my age next year and please God he'll let me make it." During a question and answer interlude Jeremy Beadle asked who Mr La Rue would have at his dinner table and was told: "My dear Jack of course, Noel Coward, Jimmy Porter, Len Rawcliffe and Mother Theresa." Director of fundraising Ramesh Ghandi then returned to the serious side of the afternoon to thank Danny "with love and affection for his help" and Geoffrey and Barbara Thompson for "bringing Paradise on Earth to us."

"And thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you here today. The target of £2.9 million is big but I know the support we had for the MRI Scanner, and with all the backing we have in the community how can we fail!

"Thank you also to Basil Newby, of In The Pink Leisure, for his cheque today for £2,400 raised at Funny Girls and just this afternoon we have raised another £1,500 with our raffle and auction.

"And finally special thanks must go to our appeal manager, Karen Dyke, who is the backbone of the appeal. And without backbone you are no good."