A STATE-OF-THE-ART new radiotherapy centre at a county hospital has moved a step closer to completion as three machines which will deliver the treatment were successfully tested.

The linear accelerators – also known as linacs – use electricity to create high-energy radiation that can be used to treat tumours more effectively, causing less damage to surrounding tissue and less risk of complications.

The machines are based at the newly-completed module bunker, which is made out of pre-fabricated blocks and is the first of its kind in England.

This puts the centre, based at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, on schedule to open at the start of next year, saving 95 per cent of cancer patients and their families in the county from having to travel to Cheltenham, Coventry or Wolverhampton for radiotherapy treatment.

The centre’s lead cancer clinician Adel Makar said: “This is a huge milestone for Worcestershire’s cancer services.

“These machines will make such a difference to patients, who will soon be able to receive this radiation treatment closer to home.”