A POWERFUL microscope has been launched to help doctors at a hospital fight cancer.

The Nikon Eclipse 50i allows doctors at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough to hook up via a video conferencing system with specialists at King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill and Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

They work alongside the specialists to view and discuss pathology specimens and x-rays.

Money to pay for the £12,500 microscope was raised by the Bromley Area Leukaemia Support Group and a 160-mile sponsored bike ride by Bromley Rugby Club.

Consultant haematologist and oncologist at the Princess Royal’s Chartwell Unit, Dr Anil Lakhani, said: “This is a major step forward for us as it speeds up the critical process of analysing samples and makes discussing them much easier.”