FLOWER power is to be used to raise thousands of pounds for terminally-ill children in Lancashire.

Derian House Children's Hospice, Chorley, is launching the fund-raising challenge through its Forget Me Not Spring Appeal.

Street collections, sales of flowers and other events will take place in town centres throughout the region to raise money towards the £670,000 the hospice needs annually to stay open.

The appeal will run from mid-April to the end of May and will operate in a similar way to the Sunflower appeals run by adult hospices.

The flower has become synonymous with the philosophy of Derian House in remembering children who have spent time there during their short lives.

The hospice has a Forget Me Not garden which offers a living reminder to children who have died and there is an annual Forget Me Not service in the hospice chapel to celebrate their lives.

Derian House is now looking for volunteers to help the appeal in all areas of the county and anyone who can spare a few hours to help should contact the appeals office on 01257 271271.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.