Campaigners are celebrating after successfully raising more than £10,000 to buy vital cancer equipment.

A Thompson Farley Retractor is now installed in one of the operating theatres at Worthing Hospital.

The machine allows surgeons to operate more quickly and accurately without a team of doctors having to be on hand.

The fund-raising campaign was spearheaded by Adur Council chairman Don Phillips who had to have an operation to remove a cancerous tumour 16 years ago.

It was also supported by Frosts Cars Ltd in Shoreham which raised more than £4,000 towards the appeal.

Councillor Phillips said: "We are delighted with the response to the appeal. Adur residents, businesses and societies have come together to support us.

"We have had many individual small donations and some quite large amounts. I would like to thank everyone who has given up time or donated to the appeal."

Money has been raised over the last year through all sorts of events ranging from sponsored walks to a charity horse racing evening.

Ralph Beard, senior surgeon at Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We are pleased with this new piece of equipment.

"Trials have shown the retractor shaves 45 minutes off the average operation time.

"Surgeons can then use the time saved to perform up to eight extra lifesaving operations a year.

"Also, because the retractor does the work of skilled medical staff it means that hard-pressed junior doctors can get on with treating other patients."

The retractor holds the patient's body open during cancer surgery and throws beams of light on to the critical area of the operation.

Without it, junior doctors holding open the body have to remain until surgery is completed.

Frosts general sales manager Garry Beadle said: "We were pleased to get involved in such a worthwhile cause.

"The support we have received from our customers and suppliers for this appeal has been fantastic."