Mr Hickman says fund-raising is continuing

The Pied Piper Appeal has raised �1.2m towards the 44-bed Children's Centre in the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

The five-strong team are now putting their efforts into raising �600,000 for extra equipment and facilities.

The �5m centre replaces three Victorian hospital wards but could spell the end of some children's services in Cheltenham's hospitals.

Peter Hickman, the man behind the Pied Piper Appeal, told BBC News: "Walking in the hospital, I became aware that it was adequate, but there was some help needed - it was not this century medicine.

Ward closure

"It is mainly the colourful element of the whole thing that differs it from the old hospital."

Paul Lilley, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust told the Pied Piper's website: "The scale of the centre, with a total cost of about �5m, would have been a fifth smaller without the pledged contribution from the appeal."

In September, the county's Primary Care Trusts launched a review and three month consultation on the future of children's services in the region.

It is thought they favour concentrating expertise in Gloucester, meaning the possible closure of Cheltenham's Battledown Ward.