An "overwhelming package of care and love" was revealed when Helen and Douglas House hospices opened their doors.

Once a year the East Oxford hospices welcome in the people of Oxford to see the work they do in caring for children and young adults with life-shortening illnesses.

And yesterday more than 200 people joined volunteers and staff at the Magdalen Road hospices for a look behind the scenes.

Blackbird Leys mother Angela Warner took her son Ryan, 12, and daughter Lauren, eight, as the family have just begun acting as break time foster parents to a boy being treated at the centre.

Ms Warner said: "It is overwhelming. It is a fabulous place — a whole package of care of love."

Helen House was the first children’s hospice in the world when it was created in 1982. Four years ago Douglas House became the first hospice dedicated to young adults.

Helen House founder Sister Frances Dominica said: "People say ‘wow’ when they come here because they are really surprised that it is not a sad place, and that it is colourful, and bright and vibrant.

"The atmosphere is of living fully, however long or short life may be. There was a fantastic atmosphere at the open day. It was lovely to see people come from really long distances, as well as from Oxfordshire."

Visitors were shown around the two hospices, which can each cater for up to nine people, and viewed sensory gardens and rooms, music equipment and enjoyed a Hawaiian-themed juice bar.

Hospice chief executive Tom Hill said: "We are so fortunate with the support that we get from the community. It’s so difficult to be able to say thank you properly, so on one day a year we make the houses available to the people who really own them — the good people of Oxford and Oxfordshire."

The hospice recently played host to BBC2 documentary makers ahead of two 30-minute programmes which will be aired in the autumn.

Sister Frances said: "Part of the sad side of having the tragedy of a child with a life-shortening condition is that many people are embarrassed or afraid of saying the wrong thing.

"The result is very often the family become isolated, when what they need more than anything is friends.

"The publicity, the open days and the programmes are an attempt to help other people understand how it is for the families."