SHOPPERS who supported the Evening Star's Lifesaver appeal earlier this year raised £2,000, it was revealed today.

SHOPPERS who supported the Evening Star's Lifesaver appeal earlier this year raised £2,000, it was revealed today.

The East of England Co-operative Society handed over a cheque after shoppers used the Lifesaver appeal dividend number.

Anyone who quoted the 977 number at the till helped contribute to the donation.

Star readers hit the £22,000 target to buy a cardiac ultrasound machine for Ipswich Hospital's accident and emergency department in April.

Additional money, including this £2,000, is being put towards mobile cardiology monitoring units to further help people with heart problems in the county.

The mobile monitors are used to measure people's hearts over 24 or 48 hours, and are mainly used for young people. They cost £1,500 and we are aiming to buy four.

The cardiac machine, which will be placed in the Garrett Anderson emergency centre, quickly helps doctors diagnose acute cardiac conditions, including heart failure, and is expected to help around 1,000 people every year. It can also do other ultrasound scans besides those for the heart.

Richard Samson, society chief executive, said: “It's a fantastic appeal and we are very happy to support it.

“Each year we try and back the Star's special charities and it is our members which divert money to the fund.

“The members have done tremendously well.”

N To donate to the appeal, send cheques made out to Lifesaver, to 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN.