A SPECIAL present from the Middle East has brought seasonal cheer to York's St Leonard's Hospice.

Richard Worrell, a Barlby man who has spent much of the last 18 years living and working in the Middle East, organised his fellow expatriates in Saudi Arabia to raise funds for St Leonard's Hospice.

This has enabled him to present hospice nurses with a special treat - a cheque for £1,700.

Richard, a member of the Royal and Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, has collected the money from British people who live in Saudi Arabia.

With his wife, Lyn, he decided, after visiting the website for St Leonard's Hospice, at www.stleonardshopsice.org.uk, that the funds should be donated for a special project at the hospice.

The money will be used for specialist lifting equipment, that will help hospice staff move patients more easily.

Richard said: "We have a special 'Heartbeat Fund' in Saudi, which we use for good causes back home. We all agreed that St Leonard's was the ideal recipient."

Sue Spence, clinical care services manager, said: "It is wonderful that Richard and Lyn and the Saudi expatriates have chosen St Leonard's Hospice. We are very grateful to all of them."

Meanwhile, World Cup football helped buy new bed linen for St Michael's Hospice, at Harrogate, thanks to staff with Harrogate solicitors' firm Barber Titley.

More than £100 was raised after a sweepstake on matches earlier this year, but staff decided to hold on to the money to buy "something specific".

Following completion of renovations at the Harrogate hospice a request for bed linen was made - and met by the firm.

"It was a very nice gesture," said hospice fundraising manager Christine Norton.

"They are colourful and bright and go well with the recently-decorated rooms."

Updated: 16:51 Monday, December 30, 2002