THE Wigan and Leigh Hospice appeal fund has risen by £1,000 in memory of a late Tyldesley baker. Family, friends and customers of the proprietor of Dawson's Bakery, Fred Rushby, contributed the total following his death in the hospice in November, aged 60.

It has been acknowledged by the hospice council, which has thanked people for the latest donations which range from £2 to £1,140, and total over £20,000.

These include £900 from Leigh Evening Towswomen's Guild, £425 raised by Lowton St Luke's choristers who sang carols in The Galleries, £200 from Lowton St Mary's Church, £200 from James and Margaret Knowles who took fund raising cash instead of gifts for their golden wedding and £100 from Doris and Billy Bradshaw who did the same for their diamond wedding.

Staff at the Leigh branch of Lloyds TSB donated £95 and the children, staff and parents at the Twelve Apostles' RC School contributed £80 from the sale of Christmas cards.

Hag Fold Morris Dancers donated £50 and Golborne Workingmen's Conservative Club £80, both proceeds from a New Years Eve dance, and Hindley's Argyle Street Methodist Church added £100.

Atherton's Hospice Shop counted up £115 from the proceeds of a bottle collection and hamper raffle. Leigh Parish Church handed over £193.28, proceeds from a carol service and £48.62 from Sunday morning coffee sales.

The family and friends of Wigan's late renown cancer doctor, Dr Philip Silver, donated £355 in his memory and the Ellesmere pub, Hindley, gave proceeds of a New Year's eve collection totalling £25. The remainder came from donations in memory of relatives and friends throughout the borough.