A new cancer specialist will work in Bradford - thanks to the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research Appeal.

The fundraising boost also means the first stage of testing new Drugs will be carried out regularly in the city for the first time.

Since September last year, the Bradford Can... Appeal has been raising money to help cancer research at Bradford University and Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Once the £1m target is hit, Cancer Research UK will inject another £5m into research in the city.

Dr Chris Bradley, medical oncologist at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said a new consultant in oncology would be appointed at the hospital because of money raised by the Bradford Can... Appeal.

The doctor will work jointly for Bradford and Leeds and will also be funded through a £1.24m Government windfall which has been given to the two cities to improve cancer research infrastructure in the UK. Dr Bradley said the new consultant would head the department at Bradford Royal Infirmary and also oversee research.

"It will allow us to do the sort of studies we have not been able to do until now," he said.

He said this meant being able to do phase one clinical trials, which is the testing of new drugs for the first time on patients. "Phase one trials are looking at drugs which have never been tried on patients before." Drugs which look the most promising in the lab will then go on to phase one tests.

The only drug to go through phase one trials previously in Bradford was DMXAA, which seemed to starve cancer to death.

"To test a brand new drug is a complicated piece of research to do," said Dr Bradley.

He said his scientists were mainly looking at the dosage of the drug and whether it was safe to give.

First stage trials have not been carried out before in Yorkshire, except for DMXAA, and they will soon take place in Bradford and Leeds.

It is hoped the new consultant will be appointed over the next few months.

Dr Bradley was also positive about the likelihood of finding more effective ways to treat the disease in the next 20 years.

"We can cure some cancers, particularly by catching them early," he said.