A major appeal to buy vital hospital equipment has smashed its £1 million target weeks ahead of schedule.

Christmas celebrations have now started early at the MRI scanner appeal office at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester.

Fund-raisers were hoping to hit the target some time in the new year but donations have been flooding in over the last couple of months.

The appeal was launched 19 months ago by Roxy music star Bryan Ferry and the appeal president, the Countess of March.

A host of famous faces threw their support behind the campaign, including doctors and former All Creatures Great and Small Star, Christopher Timothy.

A Magnetic Resonance Imager (MRI), is a diagnostic machine which can help people with a huge range of problems from cancer and stroke to back pain, sports injuries and circulation disorders.

It produces clear pictures of the body painlessly and without using harmful radiation, which gets rid of the need for unpleasant and invasive tests.

Lady March said: "The local community quickly got behind the appeal. They were determined that their hospital should have one, like every other district general hospital in this area.

"We were absolutely bowled over by the huge numbers of local people and organisations who supported us."

More than 3,000 individuals, 36 charitable trusts, and nearly 200 local organisations and schools have contributed to the appeal, in amounts ranging from a few pence to £200,000.

The hospital's chief executive, Robert Lapraik, said: "Work is now underway with the construction of a special building which will house the MRI scanner and which will, in addition, provide waiting areas, the control room and other facilities.

"The first MRI scans will take place in approximately 12 months, once the elaborate infrastructure is completed."