The two hospices need �3m a year to keep running

Hope House in Oswestry, which helps sick children from mid and north Wales, wants to build an extension.

It also hopes to raise enough money to employ an extra staff member and buy new equipment and furniture.

Hope House opened a branch in Conwy - Ty Gobaith - in June, becoming the only hospice for children in north Wales.

Appeals director Nuala O'Kane said: "Hope House has seen so much wear and tear in the last 10 years that it is now in need of a makeover.

"We are asking for donations to help us bring the hospice bang up to date for the children and families who think of it as their second home."

Ty Gobaith opened in Conwy last June

Kath Jones, director of care at the hospice, explained that having the right environment was crucial for the children they helped.

"If it doesn't look homely then families won't feel comfortable," she said.

Her view is backed by Sharon Barrett, whose 15-year-old daughter Stacie was one of the first children to stay at the centre in 1995.

"We have relied on Hope House so much in the last decade and still do.

"What makes it special is the love and support you get from the staff, but the surroundings are important too - I can't wait to see the end result," she said.

Ty Gobaith in Conwy was opened last year with the aim of cutting a long journey to Oswestry for families who needed the support of a hostel.

The centre has a four-bed unit and has been dealing with around 40 families since it opened.