A CHILDREN'S centre is celebrating today after receiving a major cash boost to start the New Year.The East Suffolk Child Development Centre, based at Ipswich Hospital, has received £1,500 from the South Suffolk Camping and Caravanning Club as a massive New Year's gift.

A CHILDREN'S centre is celebrating today after receiving a major cash boost to start the New Year.

The East Suffolk Child Development Centre, based at Ipswich Hospital, has received £1,500 from the South Suffolk Camping and Caravanning Club as a massive New Year's gift.

The club adopted the centre as its annual good cause and raised cash throughout 2006 to help support the centre.

Run by Suffolk Primary Care Trust and Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, the child development centre provides care and support services for children with additional needs in aspects of their development, such as mobility, speech and language skills and social communication skills, including autism.

Adrian Ilot, centre manager, said: “We are delighted to receive such a large sum of money, which will give us a fantastic start to the New Year.

“We cannot thank the caravan club enough for its tremendous support.

“The money will be put to good use to help improve the care and services we provide to children and their families.”

The club handed over the four figure cheque at the Hallowtree Campsite in Nacton on New Year's Day.