OVER the past five years, at regular intervals, we've grown accustomed to bringing you news of what we regard as one of the most important projects in the Faithful City - Acorns Children's Hospice.

Much of it has centred on why Worcester was chosen for the honour of welcoming the hospice into its midst.

But the most important role we've played is to explain why Acorns is needed, and what will happen there.

Many milestones have been passed on the road from dream to reality since we revealed plans back in 1998.

Our job in promoting the project was relatively simple, even before Cecil Duckworth raised the project's profile by underwriting it to the tune of £750,000.

Acorns is such a special organisation that it sells itself, but the £4m to build in Worcester still needed to be done.

So, today, we salute the people who've made it possible for bricks and mortar to emerge on the Bath Road skyline - you, the readers who've organised anything from jumble sales to marathons.

Your watchword has been fun, and rightly so. For, although the reason for the hospice being needed darkens many lives, the guiding principle of Acorns itself is that the families who call it a home-from-home benefit from the sunshine atmosphere that penetrates every corner.

Last October, for the first time, we began to see Acorns sprouting beside Bath Road, a growing daily reminder of how important it will be.

Today was topping out day. If you've been part of the effort, take a bow and allow yourself a glow of satisfaction.