ACTOR Martin Clunes thanked Gazette readers for their generosity when he visited Devizes today to officially open the new Julia's House children's hospice.

Mr Clunes left Cornwall, where he is filming Doc Martin, to be at the hospice to cut the ribbon helped by children who will be among the first to use the new hospice.

Gazette readers raised £100,000 as part of its 200th anniversary celebrations for the children's hospice. Mr Clunes said: "That is an amazing amount. It is wonderful to have that support from the community. I would like to say thank you very much to all of them. I hope when they see what goes on here they will feel they are getting something back."

Fellow Julia's House patron Rupert Everett was unable to make the opening as planned because of unexpected filming commitments.

But scores of other people including Devizes MP Claire Perry and leader of Wiltshire Council Baroness Jane Scott were in attendance to see how a building once owned by Kennet District Council had been transformed into a wonderful contemporary space for children with a wide range of life limiting conditions.

Rebecca Thursby from Patney, near Devizes, whose daughter Sophia is supported by the charity and who was a surveyor on the building project, said: "It was hectic to get everything finished in time but it looks fantastic."

Hospice chief executive Martin Edwards said: "We are incredibly excited that with the Wiltshire children’s hospice we have created a homely, fun and child-friendly building which will give families throughout the county access to frequent respite care."

"Our skilled nursing team has been providing expert community care in Wiltshire for more than three years and now these children and their families will also have the option of spending time at Julia’s House.

"As well as state-of-the-art facilities, and a venue for end of life nursing for children, the hospice is also an ideal central location from which to run our community care service and reach the many families in need of support throughout Wiltshire.

"All of this has been made possible by tremendously kind and dedicated fundraising from people throughout the community.

The hospice is throwing open its doors to interested people at a public open day on Thursday, June 15 from 11am-3pm.

To book a tour go to juliashouse.org or call 01980 677105. The event is free to attend.