The Butterwick Children's Hospice celebrates its fifth birthday this week.

Today, Katie Barlow visits the hospice and finds a place that shatters her preconception.

IN my mind, the image I had of a hospice was of a place where people go to die, filled with sad faces and hushed voices. As I drove to the Butterwick Children's Hospice, my stomach churned at the thought of what I would face when I walked inside.

I have never really encountered death before and I was more than a bit apprehensive about entering the building - but nothing could have prepared me for what I was greeted with.

The sound of drumming and laughter ringing in my ears, and a line of happy, smiling faces, immediately helped to ease the many doubts.

Shown into the main room, which is bright, airy and full of colour, I was amazed at the happiness that radiates from the place.

The staff at the hospice, in Stockton, are relaxed and easygoing, and I could see from the children's faces how well loved and cared for they are.

Barbara Taylor, one of the members of staff, said: "When people ask what I do and I tell them I work in a hospice, they look at me with pity and ask me how I could.

"But I tell them it is a great place to work, and that it is not about death, it is about living.

"We all have a laugh and everybody mucks in.

"People's perceptions of a hospice is usually a place where people go to die, but the Butterwick offers respite care."

Barbara is one of a team offering a number of new initiatives at the hospice, including aromatherapy and music therapy for the youngsters, as well as Indian head massage for the parents.

She said: "People forget that the parents also need time to relax, so when they come to drop their children off it is nice to be able to offer them something different."

It is not just the parents that relax when at the hospice. Although I was only there for a couple of hours, it was easy to close the door on everyday problems, and find myself becoming immersed in the hospice's way of life.

It was such a happy place and really changed my views of what a hospice is, and what really made my day was when the brother of a patient ran over and gave me a cuddle.

It brought a tear to my eye that I was allowed to experience this special place. I just wish I could package up some of the happiness and share it around the outside world.