THE Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Hancock, has accepted an invitation to become a patron of Bishop's Hull-based St Margaret’s Hospice.

It follow his visit to the charity’s Yeovil hospice in October, where he learned more about how the hospice cares for 3,800 people in Somerset with life-limiting illnesses each year.

Bishop Peter said: "I am hugely encouraged and inspired by the work St Margaret’s does among patients and their families at the most unimaginably difficult time of their lives.

"I am grateful to have been asked to be a patron of St. Margaret’s Hospice and will do all I can to promote and endorse the charity."

St Margaret's chairman Jennifer Board said: "We are delighted to welcome Bishop Peter as a patron of our charity.

"His endorsement of the work our staff and volunteers do every day in caring for people across Somerset means a great deal to us, and we hope it will help to raise awareness of the support available to families affected by a life-limiting illness."

Other patrons include the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset Anne Maw; the Rt Rev Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton; Countess de Salis; Lady Gass; Jane Barrie, independent chairman of the South of England Local Education and Training Board; BBC Radio Bristol presenter Emma Britton and her dog Billy the Beagle.

Somerset cricketer Dom Bess, who recently made his debut for England, is a celebrity supporter of St Margaret’s.

After NHS funding, the charity needs to raise more than £9.5 million this year to deliver high quality, responsive and compassionate care to patients, their families and carers across the county.