THE 20th birthday of a much-loved York institution will be marked next month with the help of an iced cake.

It has been presented to St Leonard's Hospice by the students from York College, who made and decorated it for the hospice's summer fair.

The iced fruit cake - four times bigger than an average birthday cake - was made by hospitality and catering students from the college, led by tutor Martin Halliday.

It is decorated with an iced sunflower, the symbol of the hospice movement, and with a message congratulating St Leonard's on its 20th anniversary.

The college is next door to the hospice in Tadcaster Road, and has supported its work for many years.

The original hospice buildings were opened in 1985.

Another significant milestone in its history came in 2002, when a major expansion to the St Leonard's complex was officially opened by the Duke of York. This followed a £2 million fundraising campaign backed by the Evening Press.

Visitors to the summer fair, which runs from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, June 5, will have the chance to sample the cake at the event. It will be on show until 2pm, when it will be cut and offered for sale.

Also at the fair will be a wide range of stalls and games, including a "human fruit machine", and the chance to listen to music from the City of York Pipe Band, Steel Expressions Steel Band and the Shepherd Building Group Concert Brass Band.

The hospice's grand plant sale also takes place at the fair. Hundreds of plants, including bedding plants and perennials, grown by the hospice's volunteer gardeners and a host of supporters, will be on sale. Visitors to the summer fair are asked to park - free - at Askham Bar Park & Ride opposite the hospice.

Judith Wilson, community fundraiser for St Leonard's Hospice, said: "A cake is the ideal way to celebrate the hospice's 20th anniversary, and we are very grateful to the students from York College for making and decorating this one for us. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the fair."

Meanwhile, staff and patients at St Leonard's Hospice will have the use of a new top-of-the-range computer - thanks to York-based rail operator GNER.

Workers at the railway company took part in a Computers For Staff purchase scheme which gave them the chance to buy PCs at discounted prices.

More than 700 employees joined the scheme, prompting the computer firm to throw in one free computer with every 65 that the company bought.

As a result, GNER was left with 12 computers that bosses decided to distribute to deserving charities. Staff at York's GNER main headquarters chose St Leonard's for its tireless work in providing care for the seriously ill.

Janet Morley, hospice fundraising manager, said: "It's fantastic. We're so pleased that the GNER staff in York nominated us."

Updated: 11:59 Saturday, May 28, 2005