TWO of the biggest donors to the Kemp Hospice Appeal have handed over £20,000 each and demonstrated the depth of support for the project.

Kidderminster Hospitals League of Friends and Kidderminster Aid in Sickness Fund gave a double boost to the £2.2 million campaign when they presented cheques at the official launch on Friday.

Campaign manager John Fletcher hailed the donations as "very significant" and said the money from the league of friends showed Kidderminster Hospital working "in harmony" with the hospice - a charity which is fully independent from the NHS.

"It's a very valuable contribution but also showed to the general public that the hospice and hospital are working together."

The league, a charity set up in 1959, has given more than £2 million to Kidderminster Hospital in the last 10 years to provide extra equipment and amenities for staff and patients.

Chairman David Wase said: "Both charities are endeavouring to provide good facilities for local patients and as far as the league is concerned we were very impressed by the plans and the services the hospice is intending to provide.

"We feel it's a shame that such a service as Kemp has got to be funded by public donations but I'm sure that the people of Wyre Forest will show Kemp the same generosity as they have shown us in the past."

An identical donation of £20,000 was given by the Kidderminster Aid in Sickness Fund, which aims to "relieve sickness of poor residents of the former borough of Kidderminster".

The fund was founded after the war with money from the sale of Stanmore House in Kidderminster's Chester Road North, which provided accommodation for district nurses. It still reflects its founders' philanthropic ideals and mainly provides grants to individuals and families in need.

Clerk to the trustees Peter Hill explained: "We felt Kemp Hospice is a deserving cause which has similar aims and objects to our fund.

"Kemp is part and parcel of the facilities for care in the area."