A NEW facility, which families can turn to in times of need, has been opened at one of the region’s major military bases.

The new "contact house" at RAF Leeming has been made possible by a donation of more than £6,000 from the Royal Air Force Association.

It means that service personnel and their families have fresh, modern, fully-furnished temporary accommodation to turn to at short notice Such accommodation is vital to service personnel as it can help them in both good times and bad.

Relatives can use the accommodation to visit a new baby or a service person in hospital, and single parents are able to use them for access visits with their children.

Leeming’s contact facilities now comprise a flat and three houses, all with safe, enclosed gardens. The newly-opened house is freshly decorated with brand new furniture, toys and TV.

It was officially opened by Wing Commander Wendy Rothery, Officer Commanding Base Support Wing.

"Family life is important to all of us but in compassionate cases or where parents are separated from children, sustaining family contact is vital," she said.