MINEHEAD cancer sufferer Hilary May has become the first patient in Somerset to benefit from a new mobile chemotherapy unit allowing her to have treatment on her doorstep.

Community stalwart Mrs May, who was awarded the MBE in 2004 for her services to a raft of local organisations, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last December.

Following successful surgery, she has been making a good recovery and received her initial chemotherapy treatment at Taunton's Beacon Cancer Centre on the Musgrove Park Hospital complex.

But each appointment meant a round trip of almost 50 miles for Mrs May and her husband Mervyn.

Now, thanks to the Gloucestershire-based Hope for Tomorrow charity, Mrs May and cancer patients across much of rural Somerset, will be able to have their chemotherapy treatment closer to home.

The charity raised £150,000 to build 'Bumble' - a mobile chemotherapy unit named after former racing driver and Hope for Tomorrow patron Sir Stirling Moss's late mother-in-law, who died from cancer in 2006.

Mrs May was the first to test out the unit at the newly opened Minehead Hospital and now she can have her treatment in just under an hour.

"I have had excellent treatment at the Beacon Centre but it was so wonderful to think I could have my chemotherapy treatment delivered almost on my doorstep," she said.

"Having a diagnosis of cancer is stressful enough but the travelling to and fro for appointments and chemotherapy can be particularly gruelling.

"I thoroughly welcome any way of reducing that stress and what better way than bringing chemotherapy services closer to the community.

"I just feel so lucky to be able to benefit from such excellent treatment delivered in such a modern and convenient way."

Macmillan chemotherapy clinical nurse specialist Vanessa Fountain said as many as 1,000 patients a year could benefit from the new unit.

"Bringing chemotherapy treatment closer to patients' homes will really improve their experience of care," she said.

And Christine Mills, founder of Hope for Tomorrow, added: "I'm sure that patients living in rural Somerset will greatly appreciate the choice of treatment closer to home because it will so massively improve their lives."