A CASH-STRAPPED hospice is hoping a rebranded lottery will prove a model fundraiser.

Eleven balloons, each representing a successful year of the Teesside Hospice lottery, were launched yesterday by model Hannah Tranter, who will be the face of the campaign.

Organisers hope renaming the game lotto will mean it appeals to more people.

The lottery, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, has more than 15,000 members and has raised more than £3m for Teesside Hospice Care Foundation.

The game remains unchanged, with a weekly jackpot of £2,000.

Lotto manager Jean Smith said: "The lottery has been a fantastic fundraiser for Teesside Hospice since its introduction. However, it was felt the game needed to change in order to move forward and grow in the coming decade.

"The name change to lotto is hoped to appeal to a broader range of people and encourage people of all ages to play a part in the region's most successful local charitable lottery."

Teesside Hospice costs more than £1.8m a year to run, with 42 per cent being provided by primary care trusts, leaving approximately £3,200 needed to be raised each day by the hospice.

The lotto has 105 weekly prizes. One of the balloons released yesterday contains a mystery prize.

To join the lotto, call (01642) 814455.