Fundraisers at Marie Curie Cancer Care are celebrating after reaching a £5 million milestone in their Bradford hospice appeal.

A £68,000 donation from Bradford-based health insurers Sovereign Health Care has left the charity needing only £200,000 before it opens its state-of-the-art centre in July.

TV presenter Claire Frisby, pictured, joined in the celebrations of the achievement, which was especially welcome after the charity admitted earlier this week that the opening of the hospice had been postponed for a second time.

An over-ambitious timetable and a wet winter were blamed for the delay on the centre, which is being built next to the Leeds Road Hospital, Bradford.

Cancer sufferers will continue to be referred to the Ardenlea Hospice in Ilkley until the end of June.

Brian Curran, Marie Curie's community fundraising manager, said: "This is fantastic news for the appeal.

"Our national Golden Daffodil Appeal has been instrumental in raising almost

£1 million during the last few months and this money has been allocated to the Bradford Appeal.

"Sovereign Health Care has taken us to a very significant milestone in our appeal. "We now need to redouble our efforts to raise the final £200,000."

Mr Curran praised the generosity of local supporters and appealed for anyone who had not been able to get involved to come forward.

Sovereign Health Care's donation is the third from the company and brings its total to more than £150,000 since the Bradford Appeal was launched.

David Lewis, Sovereign Health Care's chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be able to help with the final push with Marie Curie's move to the new centre which will mean so much for Bradford."

Anyone who would like to make a donation should call the appeal office on (01274) 780606.