DONATIONS to the Gemma's Gift Appeal have soared through the £10,000 barrier.The target for the appeal, in aid of the Ipswich Children's Hospice, had already been revised once, from £500 to £5,000, when it was doubled again to £10,000 only on Tuesday - but just 24-hours later donations had already smashed the figure.

DONATIONS to the Gemma's Gift Appeal have soared through the £10,000 barrier.

The target for the appeal, in aid of the Ipswich Children's Hospice, had already been revised once, from £500 to £5,000, when it was doubled again to £10,000 only on Tuesday - but just 24-hours later donations had already smashed the figure.

The trust was set up on Boxing Day in memory of 25-year-old Gemma Adams and hundreds of people have donated through the website.

Bosses at East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), which runs the hospice, said the funds would help provide a “tremendous” amount of care.

More than £6,100 has been donated to the appeal online while over £3,000 has been sent into the hospice's offices in Ipswich or pledged by telephone. More than £1,500 has been added to the total via Gift Aid.

Brian Adams, Gemma's father, has spoken of his hope that the trust would bring back the “feel-good factor” to Ipswich.

The community was left shocked by the deaths of Gemma, who lived in Blenheim Road, Ipswich, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls, whose bodies were found in villages near Ipswich.

nTo donate to Gemma's Gift Appeal, call 01473 324847, visit the website at www.justgiving.com/gemmasgift, log onto www.eadt.co.uk and follow the necessary links, or post cheques, made payable to EACH, to East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), 6 Walker Close, Ipswich, IP3 8LY.

Donate online to the Gemma's Gift fund