RAIN may have stopped play at Somerset's cricket match this morning, but it didn't prevent a team of volunteers informing spectators of a million pound appeal at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital.

Staff and volunteers at the hospital have been raising awareness of the initiative to fund a new scanner - and collecting donations from spectators frustrated by the lack of play so far today.

And the county club's captain Tom Abell and batting legend Marcus Trescothick joined in with a bit of bucket rattling.

Musgrove spokesman Paul Hopkins said: "We're got 20 volunteers shaking buckets, letting people know about the campaign and we've had a few conversations.

"People are really happy to speak to us and to dip into their pockets."

Hospital fundraiser Natalie Lee said: "The campaign's going really well.

"We launched it at the end of April and there's been great interest from members of the community who want to donate or organise a fundraising event.

"We're really grateful to everyone who is willing to jump on board and support the campaign and we look forward to the year ahead.

"We hope to have the scanner up and running by March 2018."