WATFORD players Jon Harley and Mat Sadler took time out of their personal schedules recently to visit patients at the Peace Hospice.

Patients and staff who attend day care had an opportunity to chat with the players and have their photographs taken with them.

The day care facility at the Hospice provides support and help for patients with a terminal illness. The Hospice's communications manager Jon Michael said: "Both our patients and staff were delighted that the players took time to visit the Peace Hospice.

"There was a great atmosphere during the afternoon and their visit gave a real boost to our patients."

The visit comes at a time when the Hospice's day care service has completed its first full year of providing a new breathlessness clinic facility for patients, which on its own, has generated 123 attendances.

The Peace Hospice, based in Watford, cares for people living with a terminal illness and their families from across South West Hertfordshire. They provide inpatient care, day care, an outpatient service, a hospice at home service as well as bereavement support.

This year £3.5 million is planned to be spent both running and developing their services. The Peace Hospice only receive 25% of this amount from the Health Service with the remaining 75% needing to come from voluntary contributions. All the care provided to their patients and their families is free.