AN appeal for volunteers has gone out after Chorley's Derian House Children's Hospice launched its biggest fundraiser of the year with a touching ceremony.

The hospice's special Forget-Me-Not Appeal flowered again yesterday when a service was held for bereaved parents and relatives to commemorate the lives of children who have died there.

Hospice bosses say that the service is a focus for many of the parents who come back to the building where there are so many memories of their children.

The Forget-Me-Not Appeal, which was launched in 1996 and proved so popular it has been repeated every year since, has provided Derian House in Astley Village with a vital financial boost from the sale of tiny fabric flowers.

Funds raised from it will go towards the £1million the hospice needs each year to stay open.

Susie Poppitt, a representative of the hospice, said: "The forget-me-not in many ways reflects the all too short lives of the desperately sick children who rely on the care and support provided by Derian House."

During the appeal, which runs until the second week in June, Derian House becomes forget-me-not-orientated, with store collections, sales of flowers and a variety of events taking place throughout the whole of the North West region.

Now volunteers are needed in all areas to help promote the flowers.

Anyone who can spare a couple of hours in any way, or any shops, businesses, libraries or churches which would be willing to display a box of flowers to sell, are requested to telephone the appeals office on 01257 271271.