A MACHINE which pinpoints where cancer patients need treatment has arrived at a hospital's radiotherapy department.

George Summerbell was one of the first patients to be imaged on the machine at The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and joined Mayor Ray Mallon to perform the opening yesterday.

The 77-year-old, who lives in Blackhall, near Hartlepool, recently underwent radiotherapy treatment for mesothelioma on his right lung.

The wide bore scanner from Siemens allows staff to take multiple images of patients - 24 slices in a second - and reconstruct them so doctors can more acurately pinpoint tumours.

Radiotherapy team leader Fiona Milnes said: "Because of the size of the opening in the middle of the scanner, we can do more with it.

"The machine is used for imaging and marking patients up for treatment. From the information received, doctors can see the tissue and bones and draw exactly where they want to treat the patient, so it is more accurate than a conventional X-ray."

The machine and software, which cost about £650,000, was purchased by the Department of Health through its cancer plan fund.

Every year about 3,000 patients receive radiotherapy treatment at the hospital.