A campaign to bring respite care to 1,200 sick children has reached a �5m milestone.

Plans for an eight-bedroom children's unit at St Oswald's Hospice, in Newcastle, were first unveiled in 1999.

Since then, the Jigsaw Appeal campaigners have battled to raise �5.1m to care for children from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and North Durham.

The landmark means the hospice is on course to open on schedule in the spring of 2003.

Sensory room

As well as providing respite care, the unit will also be a source of support and advice for parents and children.

It will be able to deal with youngsters suffering from illnesses including cystic fibrosis, spina bifida and heart disease.

The unit will have state-of-the-art facilities including a splash pool, sensory room, wilderness gardens and accommodation for children's families.

St Oswald's fundraising manager Brian Bell said: "We would like to thank everyone for continuing to support the appeal."

Building work began on the new unit in August 2001.