STAFF at BBC Radio York are celebrating after the station's appeal in aid of a children's hospice reached the £100,000 milestone.

The Good Night’s Sleep Appeal aims to fund a five night respite stay at Martin House Hospice in Boston Spa for every North Yorkshire family currently needing the support of the hospice.

Matt Foster, deputy editor at BBC Radio York, said the radio station and hospice had been working together for the past seven months to reach a target of £120,000 over the course of a year.

“The response from our listeners has been nothing short of amazing," he said. "To have reached £100,000 in just over six months is beyond any expectations I had when we started the appeal."

Fundraising activities have included a listeners’ lunch, hosted by breakfast presenters Adam Tomlinson and Anna Wallace, a Brownie sleepover, coffee mornings, raffles, music marathons, hat sales and CD sales.

Alison Wragg, Community Fundraiser for the hospice in North Yorkshire, thanked people and businesses for their support. “We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to talk about Martin House on air and raise awareness of the work that we do," she said. "Let’s see if we can reach £200,000 by the time that the appeal comes to an end at the end of September.”

To donate to the appeal, go to www.bbc.co.uk/radioyork or www.martinhouse.org.uk