A historian is being sought to help tell the story of a hospice that has inspired praise and affection among the families who have called on its help.

Ann McGladdery and Anne Parrini, two of the very first volunteers to work at the Eden Valley Hospice, want to tell the tale of how an idea first discussed in the late 1980s eventually came to fruition in 1991 - and the vital role it has played to people across Cumbria ever since.

"I went to a meeting in 1987 at the Hilltop Hotel in Carlisle, which is where setting up a hospice was first talked about," Ann told The Cumberland News.

Following various fundraising efforts, the wheels were put in motion to build a hospice.

The foundation stone was laid by Sir Maurice and Lady Laing in June 1990 and the hospice itself opened in October 1991.

Although Ann has kept boxfuls of paperwork that document the hospice's humble beginnings, both she and Anne are keen to hear from anyone else that was involved at the time.

"We want to focus on the beginning, maybe the first 15 years," Ann said.

"There was a lot going on then and there were a lot of people involved in helping to set it up.

"It would be good to hear from anyone who was involved with opening up any of the rooms that they have there."

Anne, a former nurse who was a volunteer when the hospice first opened and who now works at the hospice shop in The Lanes Shopping Centre, added: "At the time there wasn't another hospice around and so it was very much a first.

"We've got a lot of the paperwork here because Ann's kept it.

"But really we would be interested in hearing from anyone else who was involved.

"We've got some accounts from people but it would be good to have more stories.

"But what we'd really like is for someone who is either interested in history or has experience of this sort of thing to help us pull it together for a book.

"We've lost contact with a few other people that were involved and we would like to document the early days of the Eden Valley hospice sooner rather than later."

Anyone who thinks they can help can call the Eden Valley Hospice on 01228 810801 and ask for Katrina.