Cancer patients at a Birmingham oncology unit are set to benefit from a new 'ice cap machine' which is designed to prevent hair loss.

The machine at St Chad's oncology unit, at Birmingham Treatment Centre, on Dudley Road, has been installed following generous fund-raising by patient Shirley Brindley and her family.

Mrs Brindley, who has been a patient at St Chad's for more than a year, presented staff with a £6,000 cheque to enable them to buy the high-tech machine which helps prevent hair loss in patients receiving chemotherapy.

Together with her husband Derek she set up a charity called Angels through which they raise the money. Their daughter, Becky Brindley, shaved off her hair to raise £2,000 while their son Paul is preparing to drive from Land's End to John O'Groats in a pink Reliant Robin.

The couple intend to raise a further £1,500 to provide the full amount for the machine, with any extra funds going towards buying chairs and umbrellas for the the courtyard garden used by cancer patients at Birmingham Treatment Centre.

Mrs Brindley said: "The treatment and care I've received at St Chad's has been superb and I would like to thank my consultant Chris Poole and oncology nurses Michelle Vining, Mandy Downes and Becky Pitt for all their support."