Extra cancer cash is not reaching frontline services, it was claimed on Tuesday.

The flagship initiative to make tackling a cancer a priority health issue pumped £255 million into improving clinical services for NHS patients.

The study by Health Services Journal is a setback for health secretary, Alan Milburn.

The Tories claim that extra funding will not solve NHS problems.

Clinicians warn that many cancer centres have received little or none of the £255 million set aside last year.

And there are concerns that £76 million earmarked for 2002 could also disappear.

A nationwide network of 34 cancer centres set up to tackle cancer and coordinate services in the regions is still short of cash.

"The very existence of the Cancer Networks is on a knife edge," said professor Anthony Goldstone of the North London Cancer Network.

Over half the £2.2 million given to Goldstone's network went to pay debts at a local hospitals.

Peter Reeves, finance director for Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Trust, said the problem was widespread.

"In common with lots of places, we did not find it possible to put this year's earmarked funding for the purpose for which it was intended," he said."The reason is very simple. It's just that when push comes to shove, the perceived most important targets are the government's waiting list and waiting time targets."

The cancer budget was not ring-fenced but hypothecated - allowing health authorities and trusts to spend it in different ways.

National Cancer Director professor, Mike Richards, admitted funds were not getting through.

"We think in the end it has not, which is why we are now trying to find out what actually reached the front line," he said.

Shadow health secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said the government must implement NHS reform before spending extra cash.

"The monolithic structure of the NHS has turned into a black hole which swallows up cancer money. Ministers keep announcing initiatives as though that will be enough. There is no attempt to make sure the money reaches the patient," he said.