A FAMILY has started a campaign to improve land surrounding a north Durham hospice.

Trish Kennedy's husband, Gordon, died at Willow Burn Hospice, at the former Maiden Law Hospital site, near Stanley, in February last year.

He had been treated at Christie Hospital, in Manchester, which is a specialist cancer centre, but went to the hospice when doctors told him there was nothing more they could do.

His family said the care he received at the hospice was second to none, but they were disappointed at the derelict buildings, overgrown grass and rubbish they saw.

English Partnerships has smartened the place up since taking over from the NHS, earlier this year.

But Mrs Kennedy, of Fieldhouse Lane, North End, Durham, wants to do more to make the place as pleasant as possible for people with terminal illnesses who require palliative care.

She said: "I cannot fault the care Gordon received, but the outside of the hospice is disgraceful. It is in a dreadful state.

"As well as raising money to clean the place up a bit, we also want to raise awareness of the hospice because not so many people know it is there, and the staff are wonderful."

Friends of the Kennedys are helping them raise money, and Gary Lorrison did a sponsored bike ride from John O'Groats to Lands End, raising more than £700.

Scottish artist Kathleen Russell has painted a picture to be sold at Bonhams' Auction House, in Edinburgh, next month, with the proceeds going towards to the hospice.

Last month, Willow Burn Hospice announced plans to raise £3m over the next two years to upgrade and expand its operations at the site.

Chairman of the trustees Dr Peter Quigley welcomed the support from the Kennedys.

He said: "The fundamental problem is that the site was deemed surplus to the requirements of the NHS, and there has been a fair amount of faffing about deciding what to do with it.

"They are not going to smarten up buildings that might be getting knocked down.

"But the Kennedys' campaign is wonderful news for the patients and the staff who want to work in a more pleasant environment."