Pioneering East Oxford children's hospice Helen and Douglas House is set to throw open its doors to the public this weekend.

It is the third time the hospice, off Magdalen Road, has held an open day, and hundreds of people are expected to attend.

Hospice founder Sister Frances Dominica said: "We feel very privileged to be able to offer care and support to children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families, but we could not do any of this without the support of so many people. Our open day is an opportunity to celebrate with friends old and new."

The open day will be today, between 10am and 4pm. At last year's open day, more than 500 people came through the hospice doors.

Helen House was the first children's respite hospice in the country when it opened in 1982, and celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. When it opened in 2004, Douglas House became the world's first hospice for young adults. Together they care for children and young people from birth up to the age of 35.

At the open day, there will be a marquee offering refreshments, including a Hawaiian-themed cocktail bar, music, dance, a Punch and Judy show and a number of craft and information stalls.

Music will be provided by Musical Youth singers, and the Chinnor Silver Band, along with street dancers Dance Rhythms and morris dancers.

Charity SpecialEffect, which is working with the hospices to create a computer suite for disabled people, will be on hand to demonstrate the technology.

Staff working at the hospice will be there for visitors to meet and there will also be the chance to look around the two hospices and find out more about their work.

Communications manager Lin Beekar added: "The aim is to have a really fun day that gives the general public the opportunity to change their perception of what a hospice is like.

"They will soon discover that Helen & Douglas House is a bright, positive place where the emphasis is on living life to the full."

For more information, contact Fiona Evans on 01865 799155 or email fevans@helenanddouglas.org.uk