Staff and other people with links to Sobell House hospice will hold a service to say goodbye to the building before it is demolished next year.

The hospice cares for terminally ill patients and their families, both as inpatients and at the day centre.

The 26-year-old site, at the Churchill Hospital, in Headington, Oxford, is being replaced with more up-to-date facilities.

The leave-taking ceremony, at 6.30pm next Tuesday, will take place in the patients' day centre. Everyone is welcome.

Sobell chaplain Victoria Slater said: "The service will provide an opportunity for staff and patients to say goodbye to the present house and to acknowledge all the good work that has gone on here, as it moves forward into the future."

The existing wards, with 15 beds and five private rooms, are to be replaced with new ones including 12 single en-suite bedrooms, which will be ready in January.

The old wards will be demolished and the day centre converted into offices.