PRINCE Charles today made a private visit to Cotswold Care Hospice in Minchinhampton to meet patients, volunteers and staff of the hospice, and to see progress on the new building.

Corinne Godding Head of Resources showed the prince the outside of the new building and said afterwards: "The Prince was very impressed with progress on our new building and was keen to see how much progress had been made since his last visit. At that time it was all drawings and now the building has its roof on."

The Prince of Wales also met patients and staff and he stopped to talk to a number of different patients receiving day care, counselling and complimentary therapies.

Marcus Green Chief Executive of the hospice said: "It is always an enormous honour to welcome the prince to the hospice and his interest in our work is always wonderful to see.

"The prince was keen to meet as many people as possible and spent a considerable amount of time with everyone. He pulls up a chair chats to everyone and gives everyone plenty of time."