A SOARING success - that's the only way to describe the MRI Scanner Appeal which this week reached its £1.9m target after more than two years.

The final push to fund Blackpool Victoria Hospital's state-of-the-art scanner ended in spectacular style on Monday (July 27), dubbed D-day.

Display team the Red Arrows were invited to officially present a cheque to the fundraising team for £36,620, collected during MRI Week by charitable people all over the Fylde Coast..

And with a generous donation from the Lofthouse Foundation making up the shortfall, there was plenty to smile about when the scanner suite was officially opened yesterday in the hospital's radiology unit.

Appeal director Ramesh Gandhi, pictured with the new scanner, told the Citizen: "I am over the moon, people have been so generous. A big thanks to everyone who has given not only money but also time and effort.

"Now the target has been reached I feel very humble. All the hard work was worth it."

Appeal chairman Bryan Carr added: "I am absolutely delighted and it proves beyond doubt the generosity of people from Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde.

"When we first started I thought it would be hard work. In fact, it has been easier than I envisaged.

"This is a brilliant result and it means potential patients will be able to take advantage of the MRI scanner without leaving the Fylde."

There was also a special mention for the Citizen, which has backed the campaign from the start, from the fundraising team as well as the hospital's chief executive and management.

"The success of the appeal owes a great deal to the unstinting support of the local media who have maintained public awareness throughout.

"We would like to thank the Citizen for its invaluable contribution to the successful climax of the MRI Appeal," they said.

The Harmony Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner is the most up-to-date, best designed and quickest scanner available and is currently being assembled. It should be ready to scan its first patient by mid-August.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.