A CHILDREN’S hospice which serves the Ellesmere Port & Neston area may be forced to axe nursing posts and take in fewer seriously ill children as the credit crunch squeezes its funds.

Claire House, in Bebington, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday, has seen a 20% drop in donations over the past six months, and needs to cut five staff to meet the shortfall.

Over the years, many community groups throughout the Cheshire area have organising fundraising events in support of Claire House.

But chief executive Karen Wright said the current crisis might lead to them having to consider taking in fewer of the most seriously ill children.