A FUN afternoon to launch a Hampshire leisure centre's new football pitches will help a £1m fundraising appeal reach its goal.

Staff at Fleming Park, Eastleigh, raised more than £1,000 through the event held last September to celebrate the completion of the leisure centre's football project.

Saints star Jason Dodd launched the £650,000 new facilities, which included new artificial pitches, 88 new car parking spaces and three rubber floodlit five-a-side pitches.

Activities at the fundraiser included a penalty shoot-out cage, with visitors encouraged to make donations to Macmillan Cancer Relief. Now the proceeds have been presented to the charity for its South Hampshire Appeal to fund a cancer information and support centre currently being built at Southampton General Hospital.

A cheque for £1,189.25 was handed over to appeal manager Connie McConachie, pictured left, by Fleming Park marketing assistant Kelly Malcolm, right. Marketing manager Nicky Harding said: "I have been amazed how generously our fundraising events have been supported. I can hardly wait to see the new centre up and running."

The £1m appeal, backed by the Daily Echo, hit the half way mark last year, with building work already well under way.

To help the appeal, contact Macmillan Cancer Relief on 023 8023 6367.