Newton Aycliffe Rotary Club President Nora Scott is aiming to show she’s got something of the Midas touch . . . She may not be able to turn base metals into gold but she does plan to convert bits and pieces of unwanted gold and silver into hard cash to help buy two stateof-the-art MRI scanners for hospitals in Darlington and Bishop Auckland. Nora launched her appeal at this week’s Rotary Club meeting and commented: “I suspect several of us have bits of broken gold and silver jewellery we no longer want but which could be sold to benefit people throughout the North East.

It does not matter if the items are damaged or even beyond repair. All contributions will be very welcome”. The magnetic resonance imaging scanners will cost £2.5 million and be installed at Darlington Memorial and Bishop Auckland hospitals. They will replace equipment that is now 18 years old. Anyone wishing to donate items for sale can contact Nora on 01325 789344 or deliver them to Rtn. Syd Howarth at Newton News  Offices at the Blue Bridge Centre, Don at Walkers butchers, Simpasturegate or any member of Newton Aycliffe Rotary Club.