Fund-raisers aiming to raise £5 million to build a new hospice for terminally-ill children are celebrating reaching their first £1 million.

Chestnut Tree House would provide respite care for children and young adults with life-limiting illnesses.

Backers of the plan, which includes St Barnabas Hospice, in Columbia Drive, Worthing, aim to build the hospice north of the A27 outside Angmering, near Littlehampton, with work to start in spring 2001.

They aim to provide a home from home for young people and their families and say there is no facility of this kind in the whole of West Sussex.

The nearest such hospice is Demelza House, in Sittingbourne, Kent, which cares for more than 30 families from across Sussex but which has been forced to cut many of its services following a drop in donations.

Chestnut Tree House would also provide palliative care for families in the comfort of their own homes.

Lesley-Anne Lloyd, Chestnut's appeal co-ordinator, said reaching £1 million was an exciting moment and an important step in the race to reach the £5 million needed.

Councillors in Arun granted outline planning permission for the Chestnut Tree House in October after ministers said they would not call an inquiry.

Building the hospice on protected downland near Angmering had been criticised by conservation groups.