A hospital renal unit has been given a £16,000 boost by The Argus Appeal.

The unit, based at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, is due to open towards the end of this year.

The Department of Health has given the money for the building but the hospital has to find £1.25 million to equip it.

It has managed to raise £850,000 so far but has a long way to go.

The donation comes from the proceeds of the appeal's successful Christmas Grotto 2002.

It continues the trustees' decision to use all money raised to benefit one specific cause.

The Gingerbread community minibus was the result of the appeal's first grotto in 2001.

The Royal Sussex has needed a new unit for the last decade to cope with growing demands from patients.

As technology improves, patients are living longer and need more ongoing treatment.

Money will be used for vital equipment including an ECG machine and pulse oximeters.

The ECG will be used every day, both before patients undergo their operations and also for diagnostic purposes.

The oximeter is used for extremely sick patients.

It continually monitors the amount of oxygen in the blood and can warn staff if a patient deteriorates and needs to be put on a ventilator.

Appeal co-ordinator Elsa Gillio said: "We are proud to be able to give a donation to such a worthy cause that will help so many people."

Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company boss and appeal trustee Roger French said: "This fantastic new renal unit is due to open later this year but they still need an awful lot of money to make sure it has the best equipment possible.

"It is terrific The Argus Appeal is able to step in and help with something that will benefit a large section of the community in Sussex and people of all ages."

Father Christmas and the grotto will be back next to Donatello restaurant in The Lanes, Brighton, this Christmas.