A multi-million pound fundraising appeal for a new purpose-built children's hospice has smashed through the £100,000 mark less than three weeks after it was launched by the Duchess of Cambridge.

Bosses at East Anglian Children's Hospices (EACH), currently based at Quidennham, need to raise £10m to move into a new base, called the nook, at Framingham Earl, near Norwich, which will have Norfolk's first hydrotheraphy pool.

And just weeks after the Duchess launched the Eastern Daily Press-backed appeal at the Norfolk Showground last month, an impressive £100,551.62 has so far been raised.

Mark Loades, EACH Norfolk partnerships manager, said: 'We're absolutely delighted to announce that the nook appeal fundraising total has broken the £100,000 mark and we're incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to this figure however large or small.

'Our launch event was a huge success and gained fantastic media coverage, and we hope to inspire everyone who has heard about the nook appeal to pledge their support to this vital campaign in any way they can.

'The money has come in from a variety of sources, including local business, individuals community groups and schools.

'We've also received a number of pledges of support, which makes this a great start to our campaign. A donation of any size really will make a difference to the appeal as every penny counts.'

The nook will replace the charity's current facility in the Quidenham-based country house which has corridors that are so narrow that staff struggle to push wheelchairs down them.

Tracy Rennie, EACH director of care, said: 'Reaching the £100,000 fundraising total means we're a step closer to building the nook; a new purpose-built children's hospice so vitally needed in Norfolk.

'We've still got a long way to go, but are confident the public will continue to support the nook appeal to make the vision become a reality.'

She added: 'Staff and families are delighted with the fundraising response so far and would like to thank everyone who has donated as well as encouraging new supporters to get involved.'