A BOROUGH hospital unit has been able to buy vital equipment to the tune of £11,232 thanks to a cash boost from the former mayor of Dudley Ian Kettle and a support group.

The hardworking Pedmore and Stourbridge East councillor helped rake in the cash - for the pain relief unit at Dudley's Russell's Hall Hospital - after choosing it as one of his chosen charities during his term as mayor.

Cllr Kettle raked in a whopping £5,860 for the unit after a visit to the centre.

He said: "The pain relief unit is a wonderful department. There are people who suffer from incurable pain and when I went to visit them I realised what an impact it had on their lives.

"I realised there was an epidemic in the area of incurable pain."

And members of the support group for the pain relief unit coined in the rest of the cash from a variety of different charity events held throughout the year.

Fundraiser and pain relief patient Gwen Timmins said thanks to the Mayor and kind hearted borough folk the unit was able to buy a heart monitor, an accutor with a stand to help monitor blood pressure and two SC1 pumps and two SC1 volumetric pumps.

Gwen from Crestwood Park in Kingswinford said: "We are absolutely delighted with the money the Mayor and the group have raised.

"It will benefit the patients at the centre."

But the group's fundraising efforts haven't stopped altogether. They have set up a Christmas-themed tombola at Russells Hall Hospital and are continuing to raise cash for the unit.

The stall is open every Tuesday from 8am to 1pm.

RIGHT: Gwen Timmins, Ian Kettle, Joan Kettle and Dr Victor Gnanadurai. (Ref: 470638M).