A TOTAL of £1,264 was raised in the Dorset Echo’s grand fundraising competition to raise money for a vitally needed new digital mammography machine.

The special one-off phone and text competition lasted for a week and incredible prizes were donated by local businesses and celebrities.

After being contacted by the Echo yesterday some of the lucky winners screamed with joy and couldn’t believe their luck at winning such prizes.

Angela Preece, a carer from Old Parish Lane in Weymouth, won the walk-on part on hit TV series Doc Martin starring Martin Clunes.

The actor’s wife Philipa Clunes, who produces the show, donated the prize.

Mrs Preece said: “I cannot believe it – I have been a big, big fan of the show since it started.

“I love Martin Clunes and it will be so fantastic to be on my favourite show.

“Not only have I won a prize but I’ve also helped a great charity in the process – I’m absolutely over the moon.”

The walk-on part on Doc Martin was one of the most popular prizes with hundreds of people entering to win from all over Dorset.

Echo editor Toby Granville said: “I would like to personally thank all of the Dorset Echo readers who entered our competition and helped raise funds for this very worthy cause.

“I hope that all of the winners enjoy their prizes just that little bit more knowing that their contribution will ultimately help save lives.”

Dorset County Hospital fundraiser for the appeal Stevie Pattison-Dick said: “We cannot thank the Echo enough for their support and for running this auction. “A big thank you too to everyone who donated a prize and everyone who rang in or texted in to win - there were lots of amazing prizes.

“And I would also just like to remind everyone who has ever been treated in the last year here at Dorset County Hospital that if they were able to give us just £1 as a donation, we would be able to buy the machine tomorrow.

“We are so close to the total – we still have money coming in from the events over the royal wedding weekend, but if everyone who has raised money can get it in to us this month, we will announce the total to date in early June and how much we have left to raise.”

There are collection tins around the hospital or money can be paid in to the hospital’s cashiers office by the main entrance, cheques can be sent to the DCH Charitable Fund (digital mammography) and sent to the fundraising office at DCH Trust HQ, Williams Avenue, Dorchester DT1 2JY or paid in to Barclays in Dorchester.

More winners will be announced over the next few weeks.