JIM DAVIDSON will be the star guest at one of the biggest charity shindigs in 2003.

The last major event of the Rose Road Children's Appeal - hosted by their vice patron Lawrie McMenemy - is expected to be a sell-out.

Tickets are already on sale for the gala sports dinner which will include an auction and raffle.

Tables of ten can be booked at a price of £70 per person for the meal at the Rose Bowl, the home of Hampshire Cricket Club in West End, on Thursday January 23 next year.

After six years of fundraising the charity is just £100,000 short of its £4.75m target.

Profoundly and multiply disabled children should be able to move into the new centre in Aldermoor, Southampton as early as April next year if the event is a success.

Construction of the building began last March and is now in the final stages.

"It's really exciting - we've started buying all the specialist equipment," said appeal co-ordinator Janice Holmes.

"We should be ready for an official opening next May," she added.

Several other projects will help bring in the remainder of the target money.

Golf clubs have offered to sponsor children for a year and various other companies have promised time or money towards the appeal. The new centre will allow the 140 staff and volunteers to help nearly twice the current number of children benefiting from the older Portswood centre.

And they will also be able to take on young adults up to the age of 25 instead of just 18s and under.

Contact Janice Holmes on 023 8039 3996 to pledge money or for more information.