The Haven Trust, which helps people affected by breast cancer, will open its first regional centre in the city as part of a national expansion plan.

Work begins on renovating a former antiques shop in St Owens Street later this week.

The new centre will provide six treatment rooms, a group therapy room, a library and a coffee shop.

Complimentary therapies

The organisation, headed by the Prince of Wales, currently helps over 650 people a year, by providing information, advice, counselling, Lymphoedema treatment and complimentary therapies.

At the moment, the group only has one centre which opened in London three years ago.

The trust's director Wendy Smith, said it was an exciting new development.

"The centre will not only benefit people in Hereford but also people in the surrounding counties."

The centre is due to open at the beginning of 2004.