A WINCHESTER-BASED children's hospice is celebrating one of its most successful years for fundraising.

Naomi House in Stockbridge Road, Sutton Scotney, provides respite care and pain relief for terminally sick children and offers bereavement and support services to their families.

Staff at the hospice's small fundraising team believe last year's success can be attributed to a focus upon certain areas to boost Naomi House's coffers including corporate support which raised £200,000 and the fifth birthday campaign.

The hospice is currently supporting 150 families for free, which includes the affected children, their siblings and their parents.

Fundraiser at Naomi House, Hugh Thompson, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the response we have had from the many thousands of people in the local community and would like to say a big thank you to everyone.''