iPods are being used at the hospital to help relax and ease the stress for patients who undergo complex body, bone, heart and brain scans.

The playlist includes everything from classical music, country and western to pop, indie and even heavy metal.

The iPods, with speakers rather than headphones, allow patients to listen to their choice of music.

Ruth Hughes, specialist radiographer at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "It is important for patients to be able to relax during a scan as they can take up to 30 minutes to complete.

"We upload as much variety in music as possible to accommodate all tastes and if we have specific requests for a type of music then we try to make sure it is included on the iPods. There have already been some very unusual requests, including AC/DC, Def Leppard and Kanye West."

The iPods have been funded by the trust's Incubator Appeal which raises money to buy items for patient comfort.

The appeal works by placing old adapted hospital incubators in the entrances of the Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals and asks people to give their loose change, old money and foreign currency.

The appeal has so far raised more than £20,000 and has funded many things including children's books, toys and furniture.

>> Vote in our latest web poll

i-map: All the news from around the North West on our interactive map