While millions of people are spending time with family over Christmas, staff at the Heart of Kent Hospice have been doing their best to make the day special for those under their care.

While for staff Christmas Day was not unusual in that the same care will be offered, there were extra touches to make patients feel at home.

The inpatient unit at the Aylesford hospice was fully staffed, and volunteers gave up their time to man the reception and offer support to patients.

Decorations have been put up around the rooms, including one tree furnished with 550 remembrance stars following the recent Light Up a Life events.

The hospice also ran a number of Christmas lunches, with crackers and mince pies donated by Tesco at Lunsford Park. Each patient will be offered lunch at the Preston Hall facility on the day itself, and can be joined by family and friends.

The nurses also enjoy a dinner prepared for them by one of the Hospice Cafe chefs, but take it in turn to check on patients.

Debbie Wells, a cake maker whose mother died at the hospice in 2014. Mrs Wells ran a stall for her cake company, Bonne Bouche, at a Christmas fair, which raised £4,500.

This money will go towards the £600,000 the hospice wants to secure over the next year with its Get Behind campaign.

The hospice has also been supported by St Simon Stock Catholic School in Maidstone. Pupils and staff have organised a series of fundraising events, including raising £700 by helping shoppers pack their bags at Morrison's, as well as volunteering at the hospice's Christmas Fayre and Grotto.

The appeal, backed by the KM, was launched after another year of government funding freezes meant the charity relied on community fundraisers and donations for 84% of its running costs.

It is now faced with having to make redundancies to cut costs while maintaining vital services as demand increases. To donate, go to www.hokh.org/donate.