A SPECIALIST AIDS unit planned for Chorley has sparked fears of a cash crisis at St Catherine's Hospice in Lostock Hall.

The Preston centre which cares for the terminally ill relies on charity to pay for most of its running costs.

But if the neighbouring 25-bed hospice gets the go-ahead, it could mean a fund-raising free-for-all, with St Catherine's losing out.

Appeals manager John Nickson said: "It costs us £1.5 million a year to run the hospice.

"We have to raise £1.14 million from volunteers, so 76 per cent of the running costs come from the generosity of people out there."

Bosses for the centre proposed for the Rivington residential training, conference and water sports centre, at Anderton, deny there would be any cash war.

Applicant Mr Alan Fresle, based in West Sussex, said: "We are completely funded by the NHS. We won't be looking for any local money, it is completely self supporting."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.