Twelve years after launching an appeal to raise money for the project, the King's Mill Charitable Appeals Trust has finally been given a preview of how the money will be spent.

The appeal has raised almost £840,000 –– including interest –– to improve children's facilities at King's Mill and with the new building set to be completed in 2010, work has already begun on the centre's interior design.

Around £72,000 has already been spent on improving existing facilities and at a meeting last week, trustees discussed with a steering group how the remaining £767,000 could be used.

Trustees were given a presentation which highlighted specific areas where the funds could be used to provide a 'real opportunity to go above and beyond' what is provided by NHS standards.

They were shown examples of artwork, sculptures, interactive areas and play and therapy equipment used in other hospitals.

The meeting was told current buildings on the site of the new centre would be demolished by the end of the summer and the project can now move ahead quickly.

Trustees agreed they wanted to be involved as much as possible in deciding how the money would be spent and they will work closely with the hospital trust to look at possible projects.

A Trust spokesman said: "This appeal has gone on for so long. We want to inform all the people who have supported us that the children's centre is now really moving forward and that all those local people raising money was the catalyst for the whole development.