THREE snooker-loopy Boltonians are holding a marathon 24-hour game to raise up to £1,000 for a cancer specialist hospital.

Michael Turner, Darren Edwards and Darren Hall will be fighting off bleary eyes to play from noon on Saturday until noon the next day in aid of Manchester Royal Infirmary.

They planned the event after Michael's father-in-law, John Armitage, had four weeks of treatment there for the blood-stem cancer myeloma.

The money raised at the Bolton Snooker Club event, in Manchester Road, will go towards the upkeep of the hospital's flats for patients' relatives.

They allow loved-ones to stay near to the wards overnight instead of travelling long distances each day from their homes.

Michael, aged 28, of Sharples, said he wanted to say thank you to the hospital for giving his mother-in-law a flat to stay in while Mr Armitage was being treated.

He added: "It's the first time I have done anything like this. We will still have a few beers but not too much, otherwise we won't stay awake."

Michael has already collected £400 sponsorship but all three players are aiming to raise around £1,000 collectively.

Mr Armitage, aged 49, of Bromley Cross, said his cancer was now in remission and was grateful for his treatment at the hospital.

He said: "All of the furniture and equipment in the flats is donated and until you need to use it you are not aware that these facilities are there."

He added that there were a lot of teenagers in the wards and the flats were particularly useful for their parents to stay in.