Kind-hearted customers and staff at Brixton's Otter Garden Centre have raised a whopping £1,635 towards the construction of a new children's hospice to service the families of Plymouth and Cornwall.

The popular garden centre had a hectic season fundraising through its Memory Tree, Wishing Well, and by donating 50p for each real Christmas tree sold during the festive period.

Veteran fundraiser Stuart Slade accepted the cheque on behalf of Children's Hospice South West, a charity which supports children with life-limiting illness.

"They really have gone the extra mile in raising this sum of money for our new Precious Lives Appeal," said Mr Slade.

"Well done to the manager, all his team and the Otter customers. This makes such a difference to all our children and their families."

With a new hospice opened in 2007, Children's Hospice South West now runs the region's only two children's hospices - Little Bridge House in Barnstable and Charlton Farm near Bristol - and cares for more than 400 kids each year.

The organisation has been providing charitable care and respite to children and their families from across the Westcountry for more than a decade.

Children's Hospice South West announced plans to build a children's hospice in Cornwall in September 2007.

Around £5m will be required for the build and initial running costs of the new hospice service, the charity said.

Children's Hospice South West relies on the generosity of the people of the South West as 95 per cent of its running costs comes from voluntary donations.

For more information about the charity, visit www.chsw.org.uk.