A healthcare charity that has worked tirelessly for four years to raise half a million pounds to buy new breast cancer screening equipment for a hospital has celebrated the end of its “incredible” campaign.

The Bucks Breast Cancer Appeal, which was launched by Scannappeal in 2012, has now raised more than £500,000 to fund state-of-the-art digital and 3D breast cancer screening equipment for Wycombe Hospital.

The equipment - which is already in use - improves the early diagnosis of breast cancer and Wycombe Hospital’s breast cancer unit is one of the only in the region to feature it.

Their achievements were celebrated at an evening reception at the hospital with special guests including Scannappeal patron Countess Elizabeth Howe, Dr Vaishali Gada, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust breast screening director at Wycombe and breast cancer patients Jane Bowley and Fiona Cross, who shared their experiences of the breast cancer service and treatment provided at both Wycombe and Stoke Mandeville Hospitals.

Dr Gada, who has worked at Wycombe Hospital for over 10 years, said: “The new technology for screening our patients is simply phenomenal.

“Being able to analyse digital images millimetre by millimetre on a computer screen means we can identify cancer much earlier, especially smaller cancers that might be more difficult to detect on the analogue system we had previously. We have diagnosed 500 cases of cancer already this year.”

William Baxter CBE, Chairman of Scannappeal’s Board of Trustees, said the equipment has helped “transform” the breast cancer screening service for people in Wycombe and Aylesbury.

He said: “Our supporters have really gone the extra mile this time and we’ve seen everything from Elvis fundraising evenings, to mountain climbing, swimming and bike riding to help raise vital funds.

“On behalf of everyone involved with Scannappeal, I must say a huge thank you to our volunteers who have given their time, energy and skill; to the entire breast cancer unit team here at Wycombe Hospital, our wonderful donors, supporters and trustees along with everyone involved in the charity team for this monumental effort."

Countess Howe also unveiled the charity's Tree of Life plaque, which pays tribute to all the people who donated towards the appeal.