A prestigious London orchestra is holding a fundraising concert to support the £4m appeal to build a new Oxford hospice for young adults.

The London Festival Orchestra, founded in 1980 by artistic director and conductor Ross Pople, is holding the concert for the Douglas House appeal, on October 21, at the Royal Festival Hall.

The event is being held to mark the top orchestra's 21st anniversary. It is hoped ITN newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald may attend the event. He has already shown his support for the Douglas House appeal by helping to make a promotional video publicising the charity's appeal.

The concert's programme will include works by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Brahms.

Douglas House appeal organiser Roger Wilson said: "The concert will be a big event for us. We were so pleased to have even been considered by such a prestigious orchestra.

"This event will also help us spread the word about Douglas House in London. There will, undoubtedly, be many people in London who have not heard about us who will be interested in hearing what Douglas House will have to offer when it is open.

"Douglas House will provide care for young people with life-limiting illnesses from all over the country, not just Oxfordshire."

Douglas House, which will be built in the grounds of children's hospice Helen House in Leopold Street, east Oxford, will open its doors in 2003.

Work is expected to start on the building in March 2002.

For concert tickets, which cost between £8 and £28, call the Royal Festival Hall's box office on 0207 960 4242.

Special gala tickets, which include a champagne reception and souvenir programme, cost £50 each and are being sold by organisers of the Douglas House appeal. Call 01865 794749.