Donations pour in for new hospice

Little Bridge House was the first children's hospice in the South West

Almost £1.5m has been raised by the Precious Lives appeal to build the first children's hospice in Cornwall.

Children's Hospice South West (CHSW) launched the £5m appeal in September to build an eight-bedroom unit at Porthpean, near St Austell.

BBC Radio Cornwall listeners have raised £150,000 for the unit which cares for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

It is hoped the Cornish hospice will open its doors in autumn 2011.

Jess Patel from CHSW said the planning application will be submitted in September and it is hoped the first sod will be cut next spring.

'Shorter journey'

"The appeal is going very well and the amount raised by Radio Cornwall listeners is fantastic - a significant contribution," she told BBC News.

The seven-acre site for the new hospice was donated by farmer Howard Rosevear.

Ceri (l) and Bethany Astill travel to Little Bridge House from Torpoint

Twelve-year-old twins Ceri and Bethany Astill, who live in Torpoint, said they were looking forward to a shorter journey when the new hospice opens.

The twins have spinal muscular atrophy and both are regular users of Little Bridge House in Fremington, North Devon.

"It's really good because we can get out whenever we want," Ceri said.

"You can just relax and there are no worries in the world."

Little Bridge House, the first children's hospice in the South West, opened in 1995.

It was founded by Jill and Eddie Farwell after two of their children died from a rare degenerative disease.

Charlton Farm, the charity's second hospice at Wraxall in Somerset, opened in April last year.