THE £3m refurbishment of Kirkwood Hospice got a major boost yesterday when the roof trusses went up.

Now the battle is on to get the roof on properly by the end of the week as long as the bad weather doesn’t delay plans.

Marie Peacock, Capital Appeal manager, who has worked at the hospice on and off for 10 years, said she was delighted with the £1.3m raised so far and said seeing the trusses go up was thrilling.

She said: “To see the roof going up with the big crane was quite special.

“It actually looks like a building now, it just looked like scaffolding before.”

The hope is that the building will be finished by April and the move back for patients from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary will take place in June.

Marie said: “While it’s been wonderful at the HRI we can’t wait to get back to our new improved unit. That building has been completely ripped out and it’s going to be completely new.

“Our priority now is making the whole building watertight and installing solar panels.”

The new building will boast an extension to the 25-year-old premises and include revamped ensuite rooms, family facilities and new communal areas away from the bedside.

Under the plans nine ensuite single rooms, including overnight beds for families, will be created to offer more privacy and dignity for patients and their loved ones.

A new three-bed and a four-bed bay will be included in the scheme as well as a separate bedroom for family members wishing to stay the night.

The total number of beds will remain at 16.

Marie added that it was important now to redouble their fundraising efforts. She said: “I’m confident in the public giving because of their continued support.

“We started building without having the money in and we appear to have acquired a new generation of givers which is pleasing.

“From the response on Twitter and Facebook 70% of all the new support has come through that.”

The next fundraising event will be a Christmas breakfast held at The Blacksmiths Arms in Kirkheaton on December 15.

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