Peace Hospice Care's Hospice at Home team is celebrating a decade of work in the south west Hertfordshire community.

The hospice started in 2005 caring for 65 patients to supporting 445 patients and their families this year.

Its work has led to the avoidance of unwanted hospital admissions and aimed to gave patients more choice.

Peace Hospice Care said week after week heart-warming letters of appreciation and tender hand-written ‘thank you’ cards arrive in the Hospice at Home office.

Fiona Cawley, deputy director of patient services, said many people describe them as "angels" and that others say their care has been "calming and reassuring" while many more express the "positive difference" they made at the time of illness and death.

She said: "Many people express the wish to die at home, surrounded by loved ones. Having to rush a loved one into a busy hospital is not perhaps what you want as the end of life draws near.

"The option of being able to stay at home is important and the Hospice at Home team make that possible. Their work often goes unrecognised, but we want everybody to know the valuable contribution they make to our community.

"We thank everyone who has been part of the Hospice at Home team for the past ten years, we are so proud of them."