Two new care lodges have been opened at Dorothy House Hospice to allow terminally ill patients to stay together in comfort with their families.

Miranda, Duchess of Beaufort, visited the Winsley hospice on Friday to open the two-bedroom community lodges.

The charity’s patron toured the new buildings with around 40 other guests, including members of the local community, charity supporters, patients and their families.

Senior fundraiser Philippa Watson said: “The lodges are an extension of our hospice at home provision.

“They are for people whose home environment maybe isn’t ideal for the family all to be together.”

The lodges were partly funded by a £262,497 Department of Health grant last year, and took around 18 months to design and build.