MID Cheshire is being urged to get behind a £1m appeal being launched next month to build a state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre at Leighton Hospital.

Macmillan Cancer Support and the Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust, which runs the A&E hospital at Crewe, are behind the scheme to offer cancer patients first-class treatment on their doorstep.

Facilities will include chemotherapy suites, attractive outpatient areas for other therapies and specialist services such as fatigue management, speech therapy, counselling and wig fitting.

The £2.6m centre will aim to reduce the trauma of being diagnosed and treated for cancer while improving chances of survival.

A large slice of the cost will be split between the Trust and Macmillan but the public will be asked to find £1m through a series of planned fundraisers, donations and events they are being asked to plan themselves.

Macmillan Cancer Support - the new name for Macmillan Cancer Relief - is also funding a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and a dietician.

Lack of space often means patients receive chemotherapy in a cramped suite off a busy corridor. In 2004/5, a total of 2,160 chemotherapy treatments were given at Leighton. That would have been 3,600 if space had been available.

Macmillan director Maureen Rutter said: 'At present, local people are getting expert care and treatment but this is in far from ideal surroundings.

'We hope companies, organisations and individuals will get behind the appeal.'