THANK YOU will be the theme of this year's St Richard's Hospice annual service.

The service at Droitwich Methodist Church will be an opportunity for patients, families, friends, volunteers and staff to celebrate the work of the hospice with a short service of readings, poetry, hymns and prayer.

David Knight, newly appointed leader of the chaplaincy team at St Richard's, said: "The last year has been very special for St Richard's in many ways and we've a lot to give thanks for.

"We will be offering thanks for the generosity that has ensured the building of the new hospice, the continuation of high-quality care in all of our traditional services and the addition of much needed palliative care beds for the county.

"We are also grateful for the commitment of so many local people to this project.

"For this special year it seemed only right to return to Droitwich, the place where it all began and the town which gave the hospice its patron saint."

The speaker will be Dr Michael Harper, the new medical director of St Richard's. The service on Wednesday, May 16, will start at 7pm. Anyone wishing to attend should call 01905 763963.

St Richard's moved into its new £5.25 million hospice at Wildwood Drive, Worcester, at the end of last year.