Manchester United star Ryan Giggs visited East Cheshire Hospice to check out the latest plans.

The Welsh winger, who is also a ECH patron, spent more than two hours visiting patients and staff at the Milbank Drive hospice.

He said: "I was delighted to see everyone again and be updated with the wonderful news that these essential improvements are now going ahead.

"In my previous visits, it was so obvious that the hospice, which makes such an incredible difference to its patients, was in need of redevelopment.

"It was a privilege to officially open the new in-patient unit this time last year and it has come as a great surprise to us all that it is possible to start this essential work this year."

Staff nurse Joan-Marie Williams said: "This trip has made such a difference to lots of our patients both in our day care centre and in-patient unit.

"Some of them are really struggling at the moment and the chance to meet Ryan has really lifted their spirits.

"It was something they never dreamed would happen."

Ward sister Carol Waterhouse added: "Our clinical staff face incredible challenges every day and it was so wonderful to see them laughing and joking with Ryan."

East Cheshire Hospice is one of 123 hospices across the country to receive a grant from the Department of Health’s End of Life Care strategy.

The initiative helps hospices deliver better quality care to patients and those important to them and has also enabled improvements to the building to go ahead.