After 21 years of providing invaluable care for youngsters with life-limiting illnesses and much-needed support for their families, the centre in Boston Spa, near Wetherby, held a garden party to celebrate its remarkable achievements.

The hospice for children and young people ensured the event had all the fun of the fair, with puppet shows, plus hook-a-duck, a coconut shy, and balloon modelling tents dotted around the stunning six-acre lawns.

But the stars of the show were the fluffy guests of honour.

A goat, an 11-stone dog, donkey, rabbits, guinea-pigs,ducks and hens, many of them from Nuzzlets animal charity in North Yorkshire, joined the party – to the delight of many of the young guests, who spent the afternoon holding, cuddling and even walking their furry friends

Leeds mum Claudette Carter said she was allergic to animals so it was a special treat for her daughter Isabelle, six, to get up close and personal with them.

It was also "fantastic" for her son Freddie, who has special needs and is a Martin House service user.

She said: "He loves feeling the texture and the softness of the animals."

Stuart Andrew, fundraising manager for the hospice, said: "The party was about celebrating the fact that we have been here for 21 years and really sharing that celebration with families that have used us and are currently using us."

Claire and Tim Grace, whose son Cameron had cerebral palsy and died three years ago, said: "You can't replace the job they do."

Craig Walter, 24, who has muscular dystrophy, has been using Martin House since he was seven and said it was great for giving him a break from his parents and vice versa.

He was one of the first to benefit from a purpose-built teenage unit – the first of its kind in the world – which opened at the hospice in 2002 thanks to a Yorkshire Evening Post campaign which raised £1.9m towards it.

The extension increased the total number of beds for poorly youngsters from nine to 15.

Craig's mum Jackie said: "The teen unit was quite a big change because older ones don't necessarily want to be with the younger ones."

Martin House offers support to any young person with a terminal illness or condition which means they are not expected to live beyond young adulthood.

It is free and also provides support for parents and siblings throughout the illness and bereavement process.

It is the only hospice for young people in Yorkshire and when it opened it was only the second in the world.

Since opening its doors in 1987 the hospice has helped more than 1,300 families but only receives seven per cent of its funding from statutory sources.

The £3.9m costs for this year must come from fundraising and contributions from the public.