A CHARITY set up in memory of a much-loved TV presenter has donated £10,000 to Colchester's cancer services.

The Caron Keating Foundation was established in memory of former Blue Peter and This Morning presenter Caron who lost her tenacious battle against cancer in 2004.

The foundation supports a number of cancer charities and has given £10,000 to the Colchester Hospitals Charity which has launched a £4.5 million appeal for a new cancer centre in Colchester.

The appeal, which is supported by the Gazette, aims to bring cancer services - including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and support services - together in one location.

If successful, it will see an extra storey being built on top of Colchester General Hospital's new radiotherapy centre.

The donation from the Caron Keating Foundation is to fund essential equipment in the radiotherapy centre.

Caroline Bates, fundraising manager for CoHoC, said: "We were delighted to be able to help the Caron Keating Foundation with the making of a film to commemorate Caron's 10th anniversary and what the foundation has done to help those in need since then.

"The foundation made a donation of £10,000 for equipment in the new radiotherapy centre which will, of course, form part of the cancer centre when it is completed.

"The radiotherapy centre will feature in the film and we are looking forward to seeing it."

Firms in Colchester are also supporting the appeal.

Gray Dawes, which is one of the UK’s leading independent business travel and expense management companies, has adopted the appeal as its charity for the year.

Staff at the firm took part in a Halloween-themed fundraising event featuring traditional apple bobbing and pumpkin carving competitions.

Employees also paid £1 to dress in Halloween costume for the day - and £2 if they didn't.

In total, the company raised more than £400 for the appeal.