The MRI scanner is being bought with �800,000 of lottery cash.

But health service officials have told the hospital management that there is nothing available in this year's budget to pay the running costs.

A senior doctor at the hospital, John Fielding, said it is preposterous that the scanner will have to be mothballed.

Waiting lists

Hospital officials are now holding more talks with the Shropshire Primary Care Trust to try to find extra funding.

The hospital currently relies on a mobile MRI scanner which visits Shrewsbury once a week.

This has led to waiting lists of up to 18 months for some patients.

Earlier this year the government announced the hospital was getting �800,000 to install a permanent scanner.

The equipment is due to arrive in November and radiologists are hoping it to use it up to seven days a week.

But with no money available to pay for staffing and other running costs, the machine may have to be mothballed until next year.