DAY care patients at Tenbury Kemp Hospice have been in stitches for the past 12 months - and 46 patients and two volunteers have finally completed two magnificent patchwork quilts.

Each quilt has 24 personalised square pockets depicting individual stories. Some patients involved in the project completed the work on their own, using their own materials. Others needed support from volunteers

Kemp volunteer Candy Shelly, who helped create the colourful patchwork, said: "One patient has written on a pocket, 'since I have come to Kemp I have met my worldly angels'.

"Another depicts a story of a horse 'talking' about his best friend Ted, who looked after him and took him for walks and fed him.

"Ted, who is now in his 80s, tells of the time when, as youngster and one of four children, he was split up from his family and went to stay with his grandparents. He became lonely and turned to the horse for company."

New head of marketing and fundraising at Kemp, Alan Ierston, said: "The quality of the work and the individual stories portrayed on each pocket is very moving and we're making arrangements for the quilts to be displayed at Tenbury library.

"We have also arranged for a competition to be run in conjunction with the exhibition and Diana Ryan from Books Books has kindly donated book tokens for prizes."

The day care unit relies heavily on donor support, and on a dedicated band of volunteers.

More are always needed and a specific call has gone out for a hairdresser.

Day Care Organiser, Staff Nurse Janet Bideler, said: "As well as Tenbury patients, we are now offering day care to patients and families living in and around Ludlow. Referrals are generally through GP practices or by contacting us direct, and it's worth stressing that our services are offered free of charge to patients."

The unit at Tenbury Wells hospital is open every Monday, except Bank Holidays, and provides specialist nursing, medical and respite care to people suffering from life threatening illness.

For more information contact Janet Bideler on 01584 810645 on Mondays, and from Tuesday to Friday on 01562 861217.