A long-running press campaign to raise £500,000 for a new cancer care centre has hit its fundraising target.

Three years ago the Nottingham Evening Post launched its bid to collect the money towards a new £3m Maggie’s Centre to be built in the grounds of Nottingham’s City Hospital.

A Maggie’s centre offers information, advice and help to anyone affected by cancer with bases already up and running in Edinburgh, London, Fife, Glasgow, Dundee and the Highlands.

Fundraisers are now predicting they will generate the £1.9m needed for work to begin on the new facility in the East Midlands city this autumn with an opening date set for 2011-2012.

Maggie’s chief executive Laura Lee told the Post: “I have been humbled to read the stories that have appeared in the paper.

“A wonderful aspect of this campaign is that local people will always know that they have played an instrumental role in making their Maggie’s Centre a reality.”

Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister’s wife and Maggie’s patron, said: “This is an incredible display of support and we are truly grateful to all the staff and readers for their unfailing dedication.”

NEP editor Malcolm Pheby added: “The response from our readers has been truly magnificent.”