WILTSHIRE is a step closer to having its first children's hospice, thanks to a £25,000 donation from a group of philanthropists in Malmesbury.

The Malmesbury League of Friends (MLOF), who provides funds to help local medical causes, pledged the money towards Julia’s House’s efforts to bring a care facility to the county.

Julia’s House has had a children’s hospice in Dorset for more than 13 years and the charity’s nurses and carers have also been providing a home-care service to families in Wiltshire for three years.

The new facility in Devizes, which is on schedule to open in Spring 2017, will also be a central base from which from which the charity will operate a county-wide service.

Robin Clark, MLOF’s chairman, said they were “delighted” to support the appeal.

“We know of two local families who are already being helped by Julia’s House dedicated staff and there will surely be more in the future,” he said.

With further funding still required to equip and staff the new Devizes hospice, donations are still badly needed.

Only five per cent of the total annual funding comes from government sources.

Ian Wadley, Wiltshire fundraising manager for Julia’s House, said they were “immensely grateful” for the “wonderfully generous donation”.

He continued: “It will make a huge difference to the care we are able to provide for local children and their families. Everybody at Julia’s House is sincerely thankful to MLOF.”

Julia’s House is currently supporting more than 30 families with expert care in their own homes across Wiltshire.

The MLOF provides funds to help local people with specific medical or care needs, which are not otherwise available from other sources.

For more information on Julia’s House, visit juliashouse.org