THE new South Bucks Hospice van is now in operation and can be spotted in Buckinghamshire sporting the Bucks Free Press and Midweek logo.

The Bucks Free Press donated £20,445 to the hospice to buy the van to transport goods, including bigger items which their previous van could not take, between their shops and warehouse in West Wycombe Road.

The charity originally applied for £6,500 towards the cost from the Gannett Foundation - the charitable arm of Newsquest, which owns the Bucks Free Press - but was awarded the whole cost.

Tony Hardware, chief executive of the South Bucks Hospice, said: “It is in use and it is really wonderful. It is more efficient and bigger. It can now take the furniture which we are now collecting.

“We will be doing house clearances as well very soon.”

The organisation cares for people with life-limiting illnesses from within the South Bucks catchment area.

There is a Hospice Day Care Centre in Pusey House, Amersham Road and a separate clinic was created for treating patients with lymphoedema at Cedar Barn, Hazlemere in January 1997.

The van is used between the shop network, which raises money towards the hospice work.