A TELECOMS company is calling on businesses to sign up to a unique scheme to raise cash for East Lancashire Hospice.

Blackburn-based Unified World Communications (UWC) has provided an option to its clients to donate cash to the hospice raised by recycling mobile phones.

Alongside recycling handsets, the corporate telecommunication firm supply a variety of services, such as broadband provision to vehicle tracking devices.

UWC chose the hospice as its charity because staff have been touched by its work.

Through the service, Printpack Ltd, from Bury, recycled 34 used and broken handsets, raising £337.09.

Howard Jones, director at UWC, said: “We had no hesitation in deciding we should help and support the charity wherever possible. We are proud to support them. We would urge any business, to contact us should they wish to recycle their old equipment and assist us to continue to help support this worthy charity.”

Kimberley Hall, a fundraiser at the hospice, said: “Representatives of UWC came to look around and were inspired to help. They have found quite a unique way to do it.

“We don’t have many companies which use their own resources to raise money for us and would certainly welcome more to do so.

“People’s view of the hospice when they have not actually been here is that it is a dark, sad place.

“But when they see it, they see how happy our patients and families are and feel moved to give.”