A NEW appeal to raise £1m for a purpose-built cardiac unit in Salisbury has got off to a flying start, thanks to a huge legacy.

A total of £250,000 has been committed to the Ace of Hearts appeal from the will of a former circus performer, and now means the appeal is a quarter of the way towards its target after just one week.

Salisbury District Hospital charity Share has launched its Ace of Hearts Appeal so that people can undergo tests for suspected heart disorders locally - without having to travel to Southampton for investigations.

At the moment, some people from the area face a 100-mile round trip to have these done.

The new cardiac suite will also reduce the waiting time for tests and follow-up treatment as the large numbers using the Southampton facility mean that, in some cases, patients have to wait 15 months for investigations.

The legacy was left by 92-year-old Clive Castle Brookes - an Eton-educated tightrope walker and dancer.

For many years, he toured the world with various circus companies before eventually retiring in Bournemouth.

When he died, his entire estate was divided between eight hospitals in the country, where either he, or his family, had once been treated.

Sally Peaty, director of fundraising, said: "This is an incredible start for us and very generous.

"Every year, we are able to achieve so much more for the care of patients through gifts given in wills."

Appeal organisers are encouraging everyone in the community to support the Ace of Hearts campaign.

Anyone with any fundraising ideas is asked to contact the charity office on 01722 429005 or complete a response form and make a pledge.