The 1,000th patient was today using the MRI scanner at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The milestone has been reached only four months after the £1 million life-saving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner came into use.

It was bought after a fantastic response by the people of Bradford to a Telegraph & Argus-backed appeal.

The 1,000th patient was Jane Waterson, 39, a self-employed IT trainer from Cross Roads, Haworth, who was having a scan of her head.

Before the Bradford scanner came into use patients in the district had to travel to Leeds or Halifax to receive the scans.

Jane said today: "Having a scanner at BRI is so much better for me - it means a journey of 20 to 30 minutes as opposed to an hour.

"I'm glad it's practically on my doorstep now, it makes a real difference."

The scanner became operational in June and was officially unveiled by former Health Secretary Frank Dobson last month.

Waiting times for scans used to be up to a year, which meant some patients had to be set to other hospitals. Now, if necessary, doctors can arrange for patients to have their scan within a few days.

Stephen Gibbs, superintendent radiographer at BRI, said: "It doesn't feel like we've done 1,000 patients but we're pretty happy we've got there so quickly.

"It's another milestone crossed. I guess the next one's going to be the 5,000th patient."

He said the waiting list was now between six and eight weeks but urgent cases could be scanned in days. Patients were glad they no longer had to go to Leeds or Halifax to be scanned.

The MRI scanner can help detect cancer, diseases like multiple sclerosis, heart conditions, brain damage and show up problems causing back and joint pain.

The appeal was launched in June 1997 and was the biggest fundraising campaign ever undertaken for Bradford hospitals.

As soon as the appeal was launched, hundreds of T&A readers rallied to help raise cash with a vast array of money-spinning ventures. These ranged from the wacky - like heads and chests being shaved - to heartwarming generosity - one pensioner gave her 100th birthday-present cash.

The magic £1 million mark was reached in January, just 18 months after the appeal was launched.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.