THE final countdown to £2 million is ticking away fast as the latest figures show £10,000 has been raised in the last week - one of the bigger collection weeks since the appeal began.

Staff at St Leonard's Hospice are celebrating today after the announcement that the figure needed to reach the £2 million Hospice 2000 Appeal is down from £65,000 to £55,000 in just seven days.

Janet Morley, fundraising manager for the hospice, said they were all delighted with the money that has poured into the appeal office this week.

She said: "We have been so thrilled with the response to the appeal countdown.

"Letters and donations are coming in every day, ranging from £2 to several hundred pounds as a result of the Press publicity.

"Every pound is important and it has been very touching to read the messages that are coming in.

"People are sending their congratulations at having got this far and saying how precious the role of the hospice has been in their lives and how we have looked after a family member or a friend.

"There is such an affinity with the hospice that we are sure people will continue to rally round and help us towards the target."

One nurse at the hospice, Pat Dobbin, received a generous anonymous donation this week from a former patient and many people have dropped off coins and notes at the Evening Press.

The plant sale last weekend raised £1,600 alone.

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 email on emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk