KIND-HEARTED folk in Farnworth have united to raise cash - inspired by a brave beat bobby fighting cancer. Residents young and old have collected hundreds of pounds for Christie Hospital, Manchester, where Pc Graham Westwell, 37, is receiving chemotherapy in his fight against the life-threatening disease. The community rallied round after hearing that the popular policeman, who has pounded Farnworth's New Bury area for seven years, had been struck down by Hodgkin's disease, cancer of the lymph gland.

Ethel Parkinson and daughter Julie, who run Buckley Stores in Buckley Lane, decided to organise a series of fund-raising events including a fancy dress walk around the town last weekend. The walk has so far raised £825.

Ethel said: "Graham is so well known and popular here that we wanted to do something.

"We also felt it was wrong that a place like Christie's is struggling for money when cash is being handed out by the bucketful to things like the Millennium Dome."

Father-of-three Pc Westwell, who has so far responded well to treatment and should make a full recovery, told the BEN today that he'd been touched by the residents' appeal.

He said: "I was shocked when I heard that I had cancer, but all my friends in Farnworth have helped make me more determined to beat it.

"I'm already looking forward to getting back to work."

Graham, who lives locally, could be back pounding the streets early next year if he continues to respond well to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

But the residents' show of support is not the first time they have backed their bobby.

In 1995, the BEN reported how a deluge of complaints prompted a police U-turn on a decision to move Pc Westwell off the New Bury beat.

The fund-raisers' next event is night of entertainment, including a comic, disco and band, at the Social Circle Cricket Club, Piggott Street, on Saturday, June 13.

Tickets, priced £4 including supper, are available at Buckley Stores.

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