AN ambitious £500,000 scheme, which will double the size of a hospice caring for cancer patients in Bromsgrove, has been unveiled.

The Primrose Hospice and Cancer Help Centre, which provides support and advice to cancer patients, their families and carers, has made a bid for cash from the National Lotteries Commission to pay for the plans.

These include adding an extra building to the cancer support and day centre, in St Godwalds Road, Aston Fields, to provide a rehabilitation unit.

The scheme means three extra consultation rooms for counselling, more space for complementary therapies, a specialist lymphoedema clinic and physiotherapy facilities.

All this would be on the ground floor, creating easy access for wheelchair users.

The first floor of the new and existing building would be used as administration offices, with facilities and meeting rooms for nursing staff and carers.

As well as news on the Lottery bid, Primrose bosses have to wait and see if Bromsgrove District Council will pass the plans, which have just been submitted.

Once the building is complete, cash will have to be generated to furbish the unit and cover the day-to-day running of it.

Director of care Pat Fuszard said: "This new unit means we can provide the high standard of care for patients right from their diagnosis, and support for their families.

"I think the public wants to see where their donations are going and this development will be a perfect example of what the money goes towards."

Chairman of trustees John Burman said: "There are a lot of hurdles to overcome but we are flexible."