A founder of the Minchinhampton-based Longfield hospice has returned to support the next stage of the care charity's growth.

Dr Andrew Boddam-Whetham was one of the three founders, along with Barbara Curd, a health visitor from Nailsworth and Helen Hutchinson, a Macmillan Nurse in the area, who came up with the idea for the charity in 1987.

"There was a huge void in the county for care and support for cancer patients and their families," said Dr Andrew, formerly a GP in Nailsworth.

"A talk by St Peter's Hospice (in Bristol) planted the seed. I said to someone that I would love to work with a hospice but there isn't one in my area and they told me 'then build one'.

Now, 30 years on, Dr Andrew, who has retired after 36 years as a GP, has returned to Longfield, this time as a volunteer patient driver.

Dr Andrew was one of the three who, in 1988, launched the Cotswold Care Project, to raise £500,000 for a hospice.

Two years later the charity had bought the current site on Burleigh Lane, Minchinhampton which included a house called Longfield, on Burleigh Lane.

The house was used as the hospice until a new purpose-built facility was completed in 2008.

He said he was thrilled to be back and to see how the charity has expanded.

"It's wonderful to see the charity so well established and how it has branched out from just providing palliative care to cancer patients to supporting anyone who has life-limiting conditions from diagnosis onwards," he said.

"People are now living longer with chronic illnesses so there is a greater need for Longfield's services which is even more reason for people to support the charity whether it is through raising money or volunteering like me."

When the hospice charity first started it provided day therapy four days a week for up to 10 people a day. Now Longfield is the county's largest provider of hospice at home care. It now looks after hundreds of people every year.

As Longfield marks its 30th anniversary it is asking people to get involved and help it grow and support even more people in the county.

There are lots of ways people can raise money for the charity including hosting a tea party and holding an open garden event.

Pubs are joining Love your Local! campaign and will be staging events throughout the year to encouraging punters to raise some pounds, as well as raise a pint.

Longfield is encouraging people to join its #30for30 and get active.

"Longfield is a special organisation - full stop. Being back here I am getting back that 'feel good' factor of the early days. This is a group of people working together for a cause they believe in," said Dr Andrew.

Find out how you can support Longfield on www.longfield.org.uk