A CANCER patient is determined to plough money back into the hospital which is treating him by auctioning an unusual slice of rural history.

Graeme Rothwell, 48, is taking bids for his treasured 34-year-old tractor, which has helped farmers across the globe.

Five years ago the ex-Manningtree High School pupil was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

Despite a successful operation to remove his left kidney the cancer returned to his lungs three years ago and the prognosis was poor.

Mr Rothwell said: "I was facing a very grim situation, and I was told there was not any chance of treatment."

His only hope was a clinical trial involving a range of drugs and treatments that left a devastating affect on his body.

Nine months ago he found out about a new drug which was proving successful in battling tumours.

"Sadly, I was in the wrong post code and Colchester Hospital would not provide the funds as it was only available at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

"I sent letters to my MP and campaigned with the help of friends to get Colchester to fund it and eventually they did," he said.

Since starting the treatment the tumour has not grown.

He said: "It was time to give something back, so I decided to sell my prized 1973 Massey Ferguson Tractor and donate some of the money to the cancer unit at the Royal Marsden.