A NEW Daisy Bus is being purchased to help Isle of Wight cancer patients attend hospital appointments.

Grant funding has enabled Wessex Cancer Trust to buy the new vehicle and the incredible fundraising efforts of Islanders have also helped to ensure it is now funded well into 2020.

The bus provides a vital transport service for Island cancer patients, taking them to their Portsmouth hospital appointments for free, but funding cuts in 2017 had posed a threat to the service.

To celebrate the arrival of the new vehicle and the success of the appeal, the charity is hosting a thank you event for all supporters next Wednesday, February 20.

Taking place at the charity's support centre in Lugley Street, Newport, the event will be held between 12pm and 2pm, with a speech and toast at 1pm.

Those attending include Island businesses and organisations that have been heavily involved in protecting the service.

Among them are the Island's Freemasons and the Isle of Wight Prostate Cancer Support Group, who raised thousands towards the appeal, and Hovertravel, which has donated 10 per cent of its ticket

fares from patients travelling across the water.

The new bus, which was funded by grants from the Clothworkers’ Foundation and Football for Cancer, will be showcased at the event.