PATRICIA Routledge has been Keeping Up Appearances at a Worcestershire charity.

The actress, best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the television comedy series, visited St Richard's Hospice in her role as patron.

She spent time meeting patients, families and staff at the new site in Worcester's Wildwood Drive, accompanied by Jeannie Young, who has just stepped down as chairman of St Richard's and new chairman John Bawden.

Marilyn Peachey, director of fund-raising, said: "We were absolutely delighted to welcome Miss Routledge to the hospice.

"She had last visited when it was a construction site and this was the first time she had been able to see the wonderful facility in its finished state."

The actress was appearing at the Malvern Theatre in Office Suite by Alan Bennett.

St Richard's moved into its new £5.25 million hospice at the end of last year. It contains an in-patient unit for the first time, a day hospice and offers many services, including counselling and bereavement support.

All the services are free and fund-raisers are now hard at work generating the £3.2 million needed this year to provide ongoing care and support.