A HOSPICE is celebrating after a proposed £560,000 extension was approved.

The Primrose Hospice and Cancer Help Centre, which is based in Bromsgrove but takes most of its patients from Redditch, won planning permission from Bromsgrove Council last week.

The extension to the existing building, a former Victorian rectory, will enable the charity, which cares for people diagnosed with cancer, to expand its services.

A bid for the whole cost of the new building has been submitted to the National Lottery Charities Board and it is hoped the hospice will get an answer some time in the New Year.

Director of Care Pat Fuszard said: "This is really exciting news and opens up the opportunity for us to establish our long awaited rehabilitation programme, including the development of lymphoedema and physiotherapy services.

''It will also allow us to continue the development of our existing services for patients and their families right from diagnosis."

Primrose chairman John Burman said that even if the lottery application was unsuccessful, plans were afoot to raise substantial funds.

"We're delighted to be over this first hurdle and are grateful to all those who helped to put our planning application together,'' he said.

"The people of Redditch and Bromsgrove have supported the Primrose from the beginning, when they raised more than £500,000 to buy the building.

"With their help, I know we can do it again."