PLANS to build a new hospice have moved a significant step closer after a charity pledged to donate £500,000 to the cause.

The Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust has announced the donation to Willow Burn Hospice, which hopes to build a new hospice on its existing site near Lanchester, County Durham.

The hospice, which opened its doors in the former Maiden Law Hospital in 1989, won planning permission for the £5.7m replacement hospice in July and has now launched a fund raising campaign so building work can begin.

The new hospice is to be built in three phases and the latest donations means that Willow Burn is now within sight of being able to press ahead with the first phase, which will cost £2.2m.

Chief executive Helen Mills said: "The gift, which will be paid over five years, is significant both in terms of its size and the timing.

"It is common for Trust-giving organisations to turn down applications for funding until a certain proportion of the funding has been found.

"This is often a Catch 22 situation for charities that need at least one organisation to have the faith and belief in the charity’s vision.

"The Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust has shown that they indeed have the faith and belief in our vision and for that we will be eternally grateful."

David Gray, a Trustee of the Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust said: "With some funds already set aside and the Sir Tom Cowie Trust Charitable gift, Willow Burn needs to raise £1m in the next ten months to be able to press ahead with their ambitious plans in the current financial year."

The finished hospice will see the number of in-patient beds increase from four to six, while there will also be new facilities such as a sun room, health spa, dance studio and therapy suite alongside existing services.

Anyone able to offer help raising funds should contact Helen Mills on 01207 523292 or Susan Jones on 07590 850213.