An appeal for unwanted mobile phones has been given The X Factor after celebrity presenter Caroline Flack visited Radio Marsden.

The host of ITV2's The Xtra Factor gave her backing to the appeal when she dropped in to the station's studio.

In an attempt to raise raise funds for a major re-fit of its studios at the Royal Marsden hospitals in Sutton and Chelsea, Radio Marsden has teamed up with the Times Square Shopping Centre.

Radio Marsden presenter David Goodings said:"Having someone like Caroline support our work and the appeal means an incredible amount to us and it was great that she took the time to chat on-air and meet some of the patients."

"We are hoping to collect thousands of mobile phones which will be sold for recycling and raise money towards the £42,000 needed to re-fit the studios. There are dozens of collection points in and around Sutton, so we’re hoping people will look out all their old phones tucked away in draws and cupboards and drop them off."

Radio Marsden, which broadcasts to patients and on-line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, does not receive any grants or funding from the hospital, the NHS or the Government, so relies entirely on donations and fund-raising to run this essential service.

"We are pleased to continue our support for Radio Marsden to ensure it can develop its community service across Sutton and beyond and increase its appeal and profile as one of the country’s leading hospital radio stations," said Times Square Shopping Centre Manager Noel Bergmann.

"The phone appeal is something everyone can get behind and we will do all we can to get as many old and unwanted mobile phones as possible."