BENEFACTOR John Badland has already donated a new car to St Anne's Hospice to raise vital funds - now he has pushed his generosity up a gear.

Mr Badland has promised he will give two more new cars to be raffled in aid of the hospice in 2006 and 2007.

St Anne's first car draw was launched in January this year with the help of Newport Gwent Dragon Richard Bryant and former rugby star David Watkins, now chairman of the city's rugby club.

Ticket sales have already topped £8,000 for the chance to win the Peugeot 206 but there is still plenty of time to enter the draw which takes place on St Anne's Day, July 26.

Adrian Hadley, fundraising director for the hospice, said they were very grateful to Mr Badland for his offer to donate another two cars. "It is great and very generous."

Mr Badland, 83, is a long-time supporter of St Anne's. "I think they do wonderful work and are worthy of support," he said.

He lives in Bettws-y-Coed, near Usk, with his wife Nancy and still works for his building company, BWB Construction.

St Anne's Hospice, in Harding Avenue, Newport, provides free, in-patient care to people with life-threatening illnesses.