ACORNS Children's Hospice is now three quarters of the way to funding its £4m state-of-the-art hospice in Worcester.

Chief executive John Overton announced the Three Counties Appeal had broken the £3m mark at the trust's annual general meeting.

He added that this now gave the trust enough confidence to consider tenders from five local builders to build the hospice on land off Bath Road.

"Although we still have £1m to raise, the track record of goodwill and generosity from supporters in the Three Counties has given us confidence that we will hit our £4m target in the next 12 months," said Mr Overton.

"We are really excited to be considering these tenders and thinking about the bricks and mortar of the new hospice."

The 10-bed hospice will offer care and support for 150 children and their families from Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

It will include a hydro-therapy pool, multi-sensory rooms, and family rooms.

Currently, families have to travel to Selly Oak in Birmingham and Walsall to use other Acorns facilities.

"We know families desperately need this new hospice and the local lifeline it will provide," said Mr Overton.

"We have been particularly delighted in the last couple of months by the support we have received from groups, individuals and businesses from across the region."

Recent big fund-raisers have included a charity match at Beaufort Polo Club which raised more than £30,000, The King's School in Worcester which has added £25,000 to the total, Hereford Lions donated £32,000 and the Acorns Three Counties Walk raised more than £17,000.

The Three Counties Appeal was launched in April 2002 and hit the £2m half-way mark in January this year.

"I would like to thank everyone who has helped us to get to this point in the appeal," said Mr Overton, "and ask for your continued support to help us open and run this hospice."