A THOUSAND bricks in the new St Leonard's Hospice have already been bought by people eager to help create an improved facility which can care for even more people.

The new Buy A Brick campaign is proving a big success, and its fundraising manager Janet Morley said: "We are very pleased. The coupons are coming in steadily. We have raised £5,000 in just two weeks."

You can help us achieve the £2 million needed to realise that dream by using our coupon to buy one or more bricks, at £5 a time.

Helping to push the current total nearer to the target is £2,400 from Selby Lions - part of the record £12,400 raised by the 14th Great Selby Bike Ride in May.

Cheques for the same amount went to the Martin House Hospice in Boston Spa, the British Heart Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Relief, with the balance of the cash going to the Lions' charity fund.

Lions' activities officer and main ride organiser David Jones said the amount raised this year was "unbelievable", following last year's previous record of £9,000.

He added: "The £12,400 is thanks to the people that gave the sponsorship money, and the people who collected it - whether it's 50p or a pound, it all adds up."

People wanting to attend the BT Voices for Hospices rendition of Handel's Messiah tomorrow in York Minster as members of the audience can pay on the door so long as they are in place by 7.15pm. Tickets are £7.50, and £5 concessions.

An event with a Roman theme takes place for our Hospice 2000 Appeal at the Royal York Hotel on December 3.

The Eboracum Carpediem, a charity auction and lunch being organised by event management students at Leeds Metropolitan University, will take place in the newly-opened Principal Suite at the hotel, and is based around the discovery of a Roman burial ground at the site.

Meanwhile, Christmas cards, calendars and diaries can be bought from the four Hospice shops in Acomb, Haxby, Pocklington and Tang Hall, from reception in the hospice in Tadcaster Road (between 9am and 5pm only), and from the Alan Stuttle Gallery in Micklegate, Barnitt's in Colliergate, and Jackie Riley, chemists, in Bishopthorpe.