THE dream of a new Acorns hospice to support life-limited children from Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire has taken a massive step closer to becoming reality with the signing of the contract for the project.

The charity's £4 million appeal to build the state-of-the-art hospice on the southern outskirts of Worcester broke through the £3 million mark at the end of July.

As Acorns' chief executive, John Overton, explains: "Although we still have £1 million to raise in order to finish building and equipping the hospice, the committed and generous support from local people and groups has given us the confidence to sign the contract for building to begin."

Malvern-based Speller-Metcalfe have been chosen as builders and are expected on site at the end of October. The build will take around 13 months to complete.

The 10-bed hospice will have an acre of landscaped gardens all designed to be as interactive and accessible as possible for the children who visit - many of whom will use wheelchairs or have sensory impairments.

The grounds also include an acre of paddock for resident donkeys, Dotty and Sally.