SICK children in Herefordshire will be asking Father Christmas for a very big present this year. They need £2 million so building can begin on the new Acorns Children's Hospice for the three counties next spring.

After eight months of fundraising they are nearly there.

The appeal stands at £1.8 million but Acorns will eventually need £4 million to complete the 10-bed hospice, to be built in Worcester for life-limited children.

"The appeal is going very well right across the three counties area but we would love to get to £2 million by Christmas," said community fundraising co-ordinator Fran Winterbourn.

She added: "Getting to the half way mark would be a fantastic Christmas present for the 150 children in the three counties area for whom the new hospice cannot happen soon enough."

During October, fund-raisers boosted the appeal by £63,416. Supporters in Herefordshire raised £13,793 alone.

Fran Winterbourn added: "Many local families are struggling to cope with caring for a very poorly child with limited support. The new hospice would provide much-needed specialist care and facilities for the children as well as a network of support for exhausted parents and the extended family.''