Comedian, writer and actor Dave Spikey made sure Rosemere Cancer Foundation had the last laugh following his sell-out stand-up show at Burnley Mechanics Theatre at the end of last month.

Dave, who played Jerry St Clair in Phoenix Nights, which he co-wrote with Peter Kay, gifted £6,299.58 to the charity - his entire box office payment.

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Kind-hearted Dave, who closes every one of his stand-up tours with at least one charity performance, chose to support Rosemere Cancer Foundation as it’s a cause very close to his heart.

Rosemere Cancer's fundraising manager Sue Swire pictured with comedian Dave Spikey before his show at Burnley Mechanics Theatre last month. Dave donated the box office takings to the charity

Dave explained: “My brother Peter was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma when he was 20 and given little chance of survival but after aggressive chemo and radiotherapy at The Christie, he pulled through. He was in remission for over 25 years against all the odds and this gave him time to marry and raise two lovely children.

“Sadly, he relapsed with liver cancer and attended Rosemere Cancer Centre for scans and treatment. He died in 2008 just short of his 50th birthday.”

Dave also visited a fan who received treatment at Rosemere and sat in with one of his best pals on a chemo session. Dave added: “I was hugely impressed by the upbeat staff, who generate such a welcoming environment and bring smiles to every face despite the underlying worry and sadness of their situations. That is all in addition to the wonderful work they do in contributing to research and clinical trials.”

Sue Swire, fundraising manager for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “We are immensely grateful to Dave for supporting us. At the end of his set, Dave did a little tribute to Rosemere Cancer Centre staff, which was much appreciated.”

Dave worked for the NHS for 32 years and was Chief Biomedical Scientist in Haematology at the Royal Bolton Hospital before switching to show business 25 years ago.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments to patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and at another eight local hospital cancer units.