A DECADE after Bury Hospice admitted its first patient, the Dumers Lane centre for care held a garden party to mark ten successful years.

The event was a way of saying thank you to all those selfless people who, through the years, have worked so hard to ensure that the hospice makes a real difference to the terminally-ill.

"We have far exceeded our original aims," said chairman Mr Colin Caffrey. "When we originally opened we only had five beds, but we realised there was a tremendous demand for day care and today we provide day care three days a week."

Those with no experience of hospices sometimes assume they are very depressing places, but that is "ridiculous" according to Mr Caffrey.

"It's a very happy place which allows people to live as full a life as possible for as long as they possibly can. It's somewhere where people know they will be cared for and where they can die with dignity."

During its first ten years the hospice has been able to extend and improve its facilities, thanks to generous legacies and many fund-raising events, such as the Red Rose Lottery.

It costs around £750,000 a year to run the hospice, but when you consider it has already proved an invaluable resource to more than 10,000 patients, that is money well spent.

Mr Caffrey said: "We are lucky to have such dedicated staff and volunteers and are also very grateful for the support and care the community has given to the hospice and we hope it continues."