the Duchess of Gloucester officially opened Acorns Children's Hospice in Worcester and celebrated with children, families and those who helped bring the state-of-the-art 10-bed children's hospice facility into the three counties.

Six-year-old Yasmin Miller-Douglas helped welcome the duchess to the Bath Road hospice and presented her with a posy.

The duchess then met dignitaries, including Hereford Mayor Councillor Robert Preece and long-term Hereford-based supporters and fundraisers of Acorns Chloe Manson and Maureen Haddon.

Guests watched the duchess unveil a commemorative plaque.

After six years of planning and building, Acorns opened its doors on March 14, 2005.

The state-of-the-art facility features a hydro-therapy pool and jacuzzi, essential tools for relaxing children and families under stress and unlocking the potential of many disabled children.

It also has a multi-sensory room filled with water beds, bubble lamps and fibre-optic lights, an adolescents' wing where teenagers have their own bedrooms and a lounge with computers, a football and pool table - a place that gives them privacy and independence - and family rooms, where parents can stay while their child receives specialist care close by.

The hospice cost £4 million to build and it costs £4,500 per day to run the unit, with 80% of that money coming from the local community.