As part of its 50th birthday celebrations, Alton Lions Club launched a ‘Lions Den’ initiative with a £5,000 carrot for community groups and charities.

Dr Jules Barber, from Chawton Park Surgery, and Alan Matthews, of its patient participation group, made a compelling funding pitch for a dermatoscope with a smart phone mount – one of nine successful bids.

On November 1 club president Moira Baker and fellow Lion Frances Parris attended a patient participation group meeting at which Dr Barber demonstrated it.

This powerful hand-held skin microscope lets doctors look more closely at skin lesions. It helps with early detection of skin cancer, with the smart phone mount acting as a camera to take pictures through it.

A spokesperson said: “We are extremely grateful to Alton Lions for their generous donation, which will benefit many patients.”