A COUNTY charity that supports young people when a close family member is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness has started new youth sessions in Hereford.

Hope Support Services, based in Ross-on-Wye, raised £1,000 at a fundraising day at the Three Elms pub last year which helped the charity launch its new service.

The young people now meet up at Close House and recently kicked off the new initiative a truffle-making workshop.

"I'd like to say a huge thank you to Hope's vice-chairman Jemma Williams and her family, who put on the fund-raising day," said Sammy Jay Powell, youth development officer at Hope.

"Without the and their fantastic fund-raising efforts, these sessions wouldn't be possible.

"We're really pleased to be working with the guys at Close House to be able to offer this service to the young people in Hereford who need us.

"It's a fantastic facility which will give our young people somewhere safe and secure to come together."

For more information about the youth sessions, call 01989 566317.