A RESTUARANT in Upton-upon-Severn is offering diners a taste of the East in a bid to help raise funds for a new Worcester hospice for life-limited children.

Pundits' Restaurant, in Old Street, is holding a fund-raising buffet in aid of Acorns Children's Hospice Trust, which will see a choice of traditional Bangladeshi dishes for customers to tuck into.

The restaurant held a similar buffet last year, which proved a sell-out success, raising £850 for Acorns, and hopes are high that this year will be even more popular.

"We were absolutely delighted with the response last year and it was the most successful fund-raising event we had organised," said restaurant proprietor Sultan Chowdhury.

"We hope even more people come along this time so we can raise even more money for this very worthwhile cause."

The new Acorns hospice is currently being built in Bath Road, near the city centre, and will provide care and support for more than 250 youngsters from Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire who suffer life-limiting illnesses.

Work on the 10-bed hospice is nearing completion and Acorns hopes to welcome the first children and families early next year.

The £4m hospice will also provide a base for Acorns' community team, which offers emotional and practical support to families, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The charity is now focusing its fund-raising on turning the hospice from a house into a home to provide a caring and welcoming environment for the children and their families and needs to raise a final £750,000 to equip and furnish it.

The restaurant buffet is due to take place on Sunday, October 10, with three separate sittings at 1pm, 6pm and 8pm.

Tickets cost £10 per head, with £5 from each meal going to Acorns, and seats can be booked by calling Pundits on 01684 591002.

If you would like to make a donation to Acorns call its fund-raising department on 01905 767676.