A FAMOUS face made an appearance in Trowbridge over the weekend to launch a fundraiser for the Bath cancer unit support group.

Stephanie Cole OBE, best known for her role in the BBC sitcom Still Open All Hours joined charity members who are once again running the annual wishing tree and bric-a-brac shop in Castle Place shopping centre.

The actress added her own message to the wishing tree which was erected for members of the public to donate a pound and hang a card containing a message for a loved or missed one, or a wish for the future.

The bric-a-brac is being run by volunteers in an opposite unit.

Ms Cole also launched the new campaign which is looking to raise almost £370,000 that will improve outcomes for cancer patients from the Bath and Wiltshire area.

Mike Taylor, chairman of the Bath cancer unit support group said: “The launch went really well and it was great to see lots of people come out to see Stephanie and also to support the charity.

“Stephanie is very hands on with the charity and she does do a lot for us whenever she can.

“She is sometimes away filming overseas but she helps out whenever she can which is great.

“Sometimes when you get famous people sign up to work with a charity they don’t do an awful a lot, but that is not the case with Stephanie.

“The publicity which she draws in is really beneficial for us and as helped us to raise a lot of money since she became president at the end of the summer.

“We are very grateful.”

The total raised from the tree has continued to grow every year, and the group are hopeful they can raise over £5,500 this year. The two sites are manned by volunteers.

To make a donation to the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group Appeal visit www.bcusg.org