A RECORD amount of cash was raised last month for a new hospice to care for children who are not expected to reach adulthood.

The Acorns Three Counties Appeal was boosted by £102,000 and now stands at £1.92 million.

Organisers of the £4 million appeal - to build a hospice in Worcester by 2004 for 150 children from Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire - hope to reach the half way mark by Christmas.

Worcestershire residents raised more than three-quarters of the November total.

And the charity is one of two chosen to receive profits from the auction of antiques on Bargain Hunt on BBC1 on Christmas Day at 3.40pm.

Worcester antiques expert Philip Serrell - who will lead a team competing to hunt down bargains to auction - nominated the appeal.