AT least 12 dying children and their families in the West Midlands will miss out on vital care from New Year's Day.

Cash donations to the Acorns Children's Trust have dried up this year and as a result four beds at each of the three hospices in the West Midlands will be closed for at least the first six months of the year.

As millions of pounds have been pumped into international charity appeals like the tsunami and Pakistan earthquake funds, the flow of cash to local and national charities has slowed dramatically.

In the case of Acorns, annual income in 2005 fell by 10 per cent in what has been described as "compassion fatigue."

Chief executive John Overton explained: "Donations to global disaster appeals such as the tsunami have diverted more than £48 million away from UK charities this year, according to charity magazine Third Sector.

"In the Midlands, we believe this has diverted valuable funds away from Acorns and other local charities.

"For Acorns, this has come in the same year that we opened our fantastic third hospice in Worcester, increasing our costs and therefore the funds we need to raise."

Director of Care Brian Warr explained: "With careful planning, we will continue to be able to provide emergency and terminal care at our three hospices.

"There may, however, be some effect on the availability of respite care, although families will still be able to rely on our community team to support them at home."

Mr Overton added: "We're hugely grateful to everyone who supports us.

"It costs us £6 million a year to provide our care services, and less than 10 per cent of our funding comes from the Government. No charge is made to the families who use our services."

Acorns offers children and families a network of care, both at its hospices in Selly Oak, Walsall and Worcester, and through its community team who offer support at home.

Children can stay at the hospices for respite, emergency and terminal care. The community team give support to the whole family 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including practical and emotional support for parents, special help for siblings and bereavement counselling.

There is no charge of Acorns' services but running costs stand at £4,500 per day per hospice, which works out at £450 a bed.