The final hospice appeal countdown is pushing ahead, with another £9,000 raised this week - leaving just £46,000 to go to the £2 million mark.

The latest figure now stands at £1,953,983.79 - which means £19,000 has been raised for St Leonard's Hospice 2000 Appeal in just the last two weeks, since the countdown began.

And it is hoped that next Thursday's Yellow Day will boost the figures even further, with the help of colourful ice-cream.

Husband and wife partners Ian and Lesley Buxton, who run the Yorvale ice cream company at Fossfield Farm in Acaster Malbis, have got it licked with their latest concoction - special yellow ice-cream.

The tasty treat will be on sale on Yellow Day, both at Yorvale's regular pitch on York's Kings Staith, but also at Ripon Races - spreading the Yellow Day message even wider.

For every ice cream bought on Yellow Day, Yorvale is donating 10p to St Leonard's Hospice £2 million Millennium Appeal, which is in its final countdown to its target.

Lesley Buxton of Yorvale said: "We are very happy to be able to support St Leonard's Hospice in this way with our special yellow ice creams, and we hope that we'll have sunshine on June 21 to encourage huge sales!"

On Yellow Day St Leonard's Hospice is encouraging everyone to wear yellow clothes, eat yellow meals or dream up a yellow event on the day to raise money for its Appeal. Already lots of schools, businesses and organisations have signed up to take part, but the hospice hopes many more will join them.

Donations can be sent to the St Leonard's fundraising office at 14 York Road, Acomb, York, YO24 4LU, or dropped off in an envelope marked for the attention of Emma Harrison, St Leonard's Hospice 2000 Appeal, to the front desk of the Evening Press in Walmgate.

Or you can call into one of the shops, which are in Fourth Avenue in Tang Hall, The Village in Haxby, Waterloo Lane in Pocklington and the York Road shop in Acomb.

If you are organising or taking part in any activities in the coming weeks to raise money for the appeal contact Emma Harrison in the Evening Press newsroom on 01904 653051 ext: 314 or e-mail on emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk