GENEROUS shoppers in Tavistock Pannier Market have made a big boost to the BBC Radio Devon Chestnut Appeal, after a special stall was held in the market last month.

The appeal aims to raise £1 million to create a state-of-the-art, dedicated prostate cancer unit at Derriford Hospital.

The current total now stands at £616,000, after more than £1,800 was raised in Tavistock.

Janet Hopkinson of Radio Devon said: ?During January, BBC Radio Devon held an unwanted Christmas present amnesty.

?The unwanted gifts were handed in at BBC Radio Devon receptions in both Exeter and Plymouth, along with Hill House Hammond Insurance, who took in gifts from other areas of the county.

The gifts were then sold at Tavistock Pannier Market on March 20 and 25 and successfully raised £1,850 for the Chestnut Appeal.?

Janet said the appeal organisers were delighted with the boost from Tavistock and said the fact the town was voted best market town in the UK the week before the stall was held had really pulled in people from outside the area to the town.

The Chestnut Appeal was launched in January 2003. Prostate cancer, often known as the ?silent killer?, is on the increase.

By the time they are 80, around half of all men will have some cancer in their prostate ? every year, 21,000 men are diagnosed with the disease and worryingly, more younger, middle-aged men are being diagnosed.

In West Devon and Plymouth, specialists are now treating as many patients for prostate cancer as they do for breast cancer.