EAST Lancashire Hospice fundraisers are hoping to cash in on the new Euro.

They are asking people who have any foreign currency they don't need to donate it to their appeal.

The introduction of the Euro on the Continent in the New Year will signal the end of currencies such as francs, escudos, lira and pesetas.

Donated foreign cash can be converted into pounds and used to care for terminally-ill patients.

Stuart Andrew, fundraiser at the hospice, which cares for patients from Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, said: "We all have the odd foreign coin or note in our home and on its own it has very little value, but if we can encourage people to give it to us it could amount to a considerable sum and be put to very good use.

"However, we have to act quickly as many European currencies will cease to exist in January."

Anyone with foreign currency to donate can take it to either the Tourist Information Office in Railway Road, Blackburn, or Travelcare, Market Street, Darwen.

Meanwhile, a dinner to celebrate the hospice reaching its £1.3million target to build a new day therapy centre itself raised another £4,000.

More than 130 people attended the event at the Stirk House Hotel in Gisburn.

Geoffrey Braithwaite, hospice chairman, said the money had been raised through the generosity of the people of East Lancashire and a grant of £725,000 from the National Lottery and he thanked everyone for their support and said the hospice needs to raise more than £300,000, a year to meet running costs.