A HOST of artwork was created by volunteers to brighten the walls of a Poole-based hospice.

Beautiful paintings were made by women who are part of the Positiv Art personal development workshops, based on Christchurch Road, after being set a brief by Anne Currie, manager of Forest Holme Hospice, based on Seldown Road.

They were handed over to Anne by the creators at the Townsend Children's Centre on Jewell Road, Weldon of an invited audience including Stephen Young, Lord of Westbury, who is a patron of Forest Holme Hospice.

From beach scenes and trees in silhouette to flowers, leaves and birds, the pictures were bright, bold and perfect for the hospice, said Anne, which offers end-of-life care and support to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

She said: "We had the hospice refurbished last year with an extension and we have absolutely no artwork for the walls at the moment.

"As somebody who is a frustrated artist myself, I take my hat off to the people who have created these paintings."

Suzanne Miles from Innervision Coaching, who heads up the Positiv personal development workshops, said: "One of the people in one of my workshops said afterwards how taking part had increased their confidence and felt so positive.

"We now have a Positiv moves, acts, note, voice and art separate groups, which eight volunteers help to run.

"The staff at Forest Holme asked the Positiv Notes if they would sing for the patients and from there we said that we were involved with an art project and would they like us to create some art for them." She also thanked Barnados for their support of the Positiv workshops.

Tania Cutler, manager of the Townsend Children's Centre, praised the 'amazing' pieces of art and told the ladies to keep up the good work.

Forest Holme Hospice houses a team of specialist doctors, nurses and counsellors to provide practical and emotional support to adults and family members of all ages, looking after around 1,600 people each year.

They have a 12-bed facility in Poole as well as offering care and support to people in their own homes, with physical treatment of symptoms while looking after the emotional, psychological, spiritual and social needs of patients.

It offers all of its services free of charge to residents and Forest Holme Hospice Charity has to raise £800,000 of voluntary donations annually to continue providing end-of-life support.