Friend of the hospice and would-be Luton MP Esther Rantzen opened Keech Hospice Care's new adult in-patient unit on Monday and said she was "highly impressed" with its facilities.

She added: "It's a very happy place - an exceptional combination of vision and hard work, a dream come true."

Septuagenarian John Todd of Laburnam Close was sitting up in bed in his best blue pyjamas when Esther popped in to see how he'd settled in. It's the first time the former car industry worker, who has oesophageal cancer, has been in a hospice.

"I'd give it 10 out of 10," he said. "It's excellent, such a nice environment. Esther was also lovely - I'd give her nine out of 10."

Keech chief executive David White described the new build as "a brilliant new facility for end-of-life care" and said it had enabled the hospice to offer patients so much more.

One of the charity's greatest supporters, Lady Dixon, said: "It's a marvellous achievement from so many people with all their specialist input - nurses, builders and the patients themselves."

- For more information about Keech Hospice Care ring 01582 492339 or visit www.keech.org.uk