RED Cross trolley teams at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital have been raising funds towards a much-needed hospice.

Some £2.5 million is needed to open the 10-bed Burrell House Hospice in the grounds of the hospital in early 2019. Already £1.1 million has been raised but another £500,000 is needed before work can start.

Jean Lee, the Red Cross trolley shop manager, handed over a cheque for £500 to Judith Charmer, the fundraising manager.

Jean said: “We would like to have been in a position to give more but we have already funded other hospital departments this year. As the Dalai Lama said: ‘If you think you’re too small to make a difference - try sleeping with a mosquito.’ How very true as the trolley shop isn’t large, we try to keep prices low, and don’t aim to make a great profit. But every donation, however small, gets the total a bit nearer to the ultimate goal. We are a team of 12 volunteers, visiting the wards every Monday and Wednesday afternoon so do please support us.”