THEY were lining up to help our Hospice 2000 when a two-hour display dance marathon took place at a York shopping centre.

The performance, by the Country Rose Line Dancing Club at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet at Fulford, raised £350 towards the £2 million target for the vital St Leonard's Hospice extension, so it can enhance its services and help more local people.

Dancers returned to the centre to present their cheque to hospice community fundraiser Judy Metcalfe.

The display was organised by Terry and Dora Harrison, who set up the club more than four years ago.

It has about 25 members and meets on a Tuesday night at Naburn village hall between 8pm and 10pm.

The display of 12 dancers in the outlet's South Hall included the club's youngest member - Terry and Dora's 11-year-old granddaughter Tracey Elcock.

But it was her sister, Emma, aged eight, who got the most money in the collecting bucket from generous shoppers.

Mr and Mrs Harrison, regular supporters of the hospice, organising a fundraising event for it each year - their ruby wedding celebration last September brought in more than £600 for the appeal when guests were asked to make donations instead of giving presents.

Terry said: "We would like to thank everyone who came and supported the club, the collectors and MacArthurGlen Designer Outlet for allowing us to stage the display.

We wanted to do something else to help St Leonard's with their appeal and we are sure that everyone will be delighted with the total raised on the day."

Judy said: "We are very grateful to Terry, Dora, the Country Rose Line Dancing Club and their supporters.

"The line dancing livened up the day for the shoppers and our appeal total - well done.

Meanwhile, children from the day nursery at York College are visiting their next-door neighbours at St Leonard's Hospice on Tuesday to sing Christmas carols.

About a dozen children, aged three and four, will take the short walk with staff along Tadcaster Road to entertain patients at the day hospice with carols they have been learning at the nursery.

This is the first time that children from the day nursery have visited the hospice at Christmas, though in the past few years they have brought harvest gifts in October.

Jill Sissons, from the college, said: "The children like to have outings, and we know that everyone in St Leonard's day hospice likes to see them.

"The college is keen to continue the links we have already established with St Leonard's, both through these visits and the successful community fun day celebrations we held jointly in the summer."

Val Hampshire, day care leader at the hospice, said: "Our day hospice patients, who come to us for friendship and practical support, are always delighted to receive visitors - and especially young ones.

"They are all very pleased that the day nursery children can come to sing for them at this special time of year."

If you would like to organise an event in aid of our Hospice 2000 Appeal please call the St Leonard's fundraising centre on 01904 781576.