HAMPSHIRE MPs have been making visits to a children’s respite home near North Waltham.

North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young and Basingstoke MP Maria Miller were among the special guests welcomed over the festive period.

The Bluebells, run by children’s charity Sebastian’s Action Trust, invited Sir George and his wife Aurelia to a Christmas reception.

Other guests included The Mayor of Basingstoke, Cllr Martin Biermann, trust supporters, patrons and sponsors.

Visitors were entertained with carols sung by a choir of 55 children from St Mark’s Primary School, in Hatch Warren, Basingstoke.

Sir George, the Government’s Chief Whip, said: “My wife and I very much enjoyed our visit to The Bluebells. We were so impressed by what Jane Gates and the Sebastian’s Action Trust have built up to offer respite holidays and leisure facilities to seriously-ill children and their families.

“I am really proud to have the project in my constituency, and wish them continued success.

“As their local MP, I want to help them in any way I can.”

The Bluebells opened 18 months ago and is the first purpose-built facility of its kind in the UK, offering respite breaks to children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.

Mrs Miller, who is Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in the Government, toured the home subsequently.

She said: “It was a real pleasure to see the fantastic facilities that they offer.

“We are fortunate that it is so close to Basingstoke, which makes it easier for local families to access this type of support.”

Jane Gates, director of Sebastian’s Action Trust, said she was pleased to have been able to show the dignitaries around.

She added: “We have been able to show them exactly what we do, why it is so important to the families we work with, and why we need more respite houses like The Bluebells to support families with seriously-ill children.”