ORGANISERS of a lottery draw to boost an East Lancashire charity and help provide essential care for seriously ill patients have been overwhelmed by people's response since its launch.

More than 150 members have signed up to the draw organised by Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle in the three days following its spectacular launch at Towneley Hall, Burnley. Lottery manager Harry Grayson said: "The pile of mail behind my door in the morning just got bigger and bigger.

"It's incredible. Everybody really wants to get involved, which is marvellous. The reason behind the lottery is to provide funds to keep Pendleside Hospice, Reedley, operating. Every time someone buys a ticket they are helping a local charity which is helping local people."

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph will publish the winning numbers weekly from May 12 when the first weekly draw is made. The draw is open to members only who will pay £1 a week to have their personalised number fed into the computer which will pick the winners.

The jackpot prize is £1,000 and there will be 32 other prizes totalling £500. Members can pay in three ways: standing order, cheque, or by paying a collector who will call at their home.

"Standing order is the most cost-effective way of paying for us and, in some ways, for the member as well," said Harry. "By cheque, people can pay £10 for just over two months or £13, £26 or £52 to cover a quarter, six months or a full year." People who choose the collector system will pay a week in advance.

The final way is to pay a collector who will go door-to-door and members will always be paid up a week in advance under that system."

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