Babe's Big Appeal is supported by author Dick King-Smith

The ceremony was part of a launch weekend for the �15m appeal to provide the hospice at Charlton Farm, Wraxall in North Somerset.

The charity has Babe the sheep-pig as the figurehead of its campaign.

At present families from the area have to travel to Devon to stay at the only South West children's hospice, Little Bridge House in Barnstaple.

Charlton Farm, a Grade II listed farmhouse set in several acres of pastureland, will eventually welcome around 200 children and their families a year.

Hospice song

The turf cutting was carried out by five children - Tim and Lizzy, whose brother and sister were cared for at the Devon hospice, alongside Georgia, Jade and Sam who all currently stay there.

Clevedon Brass Band played A Special Place, composed for Babe's Big Appeal by Goff Richards.

The choir of the Downs School at Wraxall performed the hospice song To Give Them All A Chance, originally written for the creation of Little Bridge House nearly 10 years ago.

Author Dick King-Smith, who lives in the Keynsham area near Bristol, agreed that his character Babe could be used for the appeal and is taking an active part.