DELIGHTED hospice appeal leaders are halfway to hitting their £5 million target thanks to the generosity of a firm of Congleton builders.

The Donna Louise Trust is hoping to build a children's hospice on the Trentham Lakes site in Stoke-on-Trent in memory of a teenager who died from cystic fibrosis.

It launched an appeal for the hospice, and received a stunning offer of help from Gladman Homes.

The company has offered to build the hospice free of charge, an offer the trust estimates is worth £2 million.

Jonathan Shepherd, a partner in Gladman, said the company was very fortunate in having a successful business, and the partners felt it was appropriate to give something back to the community.

''We have six healthy children, which we are very grateful for, but other people are not so fortunate,'' he added.

Trust chairman David Milburn described the Gladman Homes offer as ''absolutely marvellous news,'' which was beyond the trust's ''wildest dreams.''

''It means we are at least a year ahead of our projected schedule, and as a result of donations and pledges expect to be able to start building in the latter half of 2000.

''I urge all the people of Staffordshire and South Cheshire to follow the example of Gladman Homes and others and get behind the project.''

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