AN appeal to create a garden at Colchester General Hospital for use by terminally ill patients and their families is being boosted by more events and donors.

The Time Garden will include a pavilion with space for two beds, a seating area, and its own utilities so people using it can make drinks and listen to music.

Around £25,000 has been raised of the £160,000 needed.

Located between the Emergency Assessment Unit and Radiotherapy Centre, it would be the only one of its kind in the east of England.

The next fundraising event will be a Ladies' Night at Vineyard Bar in Osborne Street, Colchester, on Friday February 17.

Doors open at 7.30pm and the evening will include live music, a free drink and nibbles, plus a raffle.

Tickets cost £10 each and are available on the night or by visiting the Vineyard Bar, Lounge and Courtyard Facebook page.

On a more energetic note, 15 people have now agreed to take part in the Colchester 10k run for the appeal, on May 14.

Runners include hospital staff, their friends and representatives from St Helena Hospice, as well as Bev Pickett, who is heading up the appeal and is the hospital's end of life facilitator.

She said: "It will be a challenge without a doubt but it will be good to push ourselves to do something we wouldn't normally do."

Hospital trust governor Ken Guyton will also be opening his garden up in Walton to visitors on April 29.

Tea and cakes will be served between 10am and 5pm at White Cottage, Cliff Parade, at a cost of £1 per person.

Recent donors have also included Mersea Island Lions Club who gave £500 and Kelvedon and District Rotary Club who donated £1,000.

Colchester Hospitals Charity (CoHoC) has created a Time Garden Appeal to which donations can be made.

Donate at www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/cohoc/timegarden