But the huge efforts of volunteers are just the start of the financial commitment for the charity behind the hospice, the only one of its type between Leicestershire and Wetherby, which will absorb a further £2.4m a year in operating costs.

Although the Government will contribute towards that, the state's input will be only £155,000 per year, leaving the organisation under constant pressure to raise money.

The hospice, between Dinnington and North Anston in Rotherham, has eight bedrooms and the first two will become operational tomorrow when children move in for respite care.

The remaining six will be opened in phases to allow staff to become familiar with the new building and ensure all the services are operating correctly.

Initially it is expected Bluebell Wood will be able to support a total of around 200 families from the region every year.

Children who need the services will be offered two weeks a year at the hospice, with a further three hours care each week in their own home.

The charity will also offer additional services such as counselling for brothers and sisters who have a terminally-ill sibling.

The Bluebell Wood building was completed more than a year ago but since then work to equip and decorate the rooms has been continuing.

Staff have started the care-at-home service for children and their families and some day care has been provided at Bluebell Wood for the last few months.

Director of fundraising Greg Oldfield said: "We were registered as a charity in December 1999 and we have taken it from there, raising just over £4m to build the hospice.

"Most of what we will offer will be respite care and also symptom control and end of life care.

"We have already been offering some day care to test the building and see how things are working and that has been going very well.

"I think the hospice will make a massive difference for the families who need it. A lot of these families get little support and we will provide a full package of care, including medical expertise. Our nurses are trained to administer drugs.

"We also provide sibling support and bereavement support to brothers and sisters, or families, whoever needs it. We do the over and above things, working with children in terms of play. We have a spa for hydrotherapy, a sensory room and a sensory tray. It is about trying to make the best of the time they have left and make it fun for them.

"There is enough serious stuff in hospital and hopefully they will come here for a break," he said.

Money to build the hospice has been generated locally by a network of fundraising teams and there are now five charity shops throughout the region to help to provide a steady flow of income.

Although the economy has resulted in hospice charities elsewhere reporting a fall in donations, Bluebell Wood has so far been unaffected, with income levels holding strong.

"There has been a lot of generosity, from people shaking a can in the street to taking part in events such as fire walking," said Mr Oldfield.

"The majority of our income is from the community and we have 15 groups who organise things like coffee mornings and run other events.

"Part of it is also about coming up with new ideas, to get people engaged in fundraising," he said.

The hospice was built with a first floor which initially will remain unused, but in future it may be equipped to provide further rooms for children.