A HOSPICE boss has praised people for their overwhelming generosity in a New Year message of thanks.

Muriel Jobling, chairman of Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle, said: "As we celebrate our tenth anniversary support has continued to grow to overwhelming levels.

"The hospice now costs over three-quarters of a million pounds to run and has 65 permanent and 30 ad hoc staff."

Miss Jobling said the range of money-raising activities was amazing, ranging from a primary school sponsored silence to climbing Kilimanjaro, from coffee mornings or running marathons, to from donating money from birthdays or anniversaries.

Miss Jobling said support for the six charity shops has also continued to grow now bringing in more than £100,000 a year.

The hospice, in Reedley, has also substantially benefited from legacies and donations in memory of loved ones.

The Hospice At Home Service, funded for three years by the National Lotteries Charities Board, was supporting more people than expected and further expansion of the service was anticipated.

In the last year the hospice provided care for more than 150 in-patients, 130 day care patients and more than 90 Hospice at Home service patients.

Miss Jobling added: "We did not envisage how rapidly we would expand our services.

"That we have been able to do so is a true reflection of the warmth and generosity of the people of Burnley and Pendle."

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