THE heat is on for a little ferret called Acorn from racy ladies in a North Herefordshire village.

The six-month-old family pet has become a mascot for Mary Lowe and Anne Ruff from Weobley who plan to race him in aid of Acorns Children's Hospice.

The ferret is the latest addition to the new friends group that aims to help Acorns raise £4 million to build a hospice in Worcester for life limited children from Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

Anne Ruff, a self-employed management consultant, decided to set up the group after reading about the hospice campaign in The Hereford Times.

"This is a cause with which every parent can identify. To lose a child under any circumstances is every parent's worst nightmare," said Anne who says she is fortunate to have two healthy teenagers.

She met up with Acorn's owner Mary after hearing about the former nurse, now a horticulturalist, and her ferret.

"My background is in nursing. I used to look after physically challenged young children. Acorn will be a racing ferret and we want to start organising race nights now," said Mary.

The ladies plan to hold a series of fundraising events as well as ferret racing, starting with Acorns lunches.

The lunches alone could raise thousands of pounds. "Each fundraiser invites five friends to lunch and £10 for Acorns is paid. Each of the five then invites five of their friends to lunch with the money raised going back to the first host for the appeal. If this process is repeated only once then more than £1,500 will be raised," explained Anne.

The two ladies are appealing for would-be Acorns supporters in other North Herefordshire villages to become friends.

"Any ideas would be welcome. Good ideas for fundraising however modest, would be great," they said.

Anyone interested in becoming friends can contact Anne Ruff at 103 Bearcroft, Weobley, phone 01544 318428 or Mary Lowe, Little Dunwood Farm, Weobley, phone 01544 318162.