The final slate has placed onto the roof of the new children’s hospice Little Harbour in St Austell.

While superstition states that Friday the 13th is ‘unlucky,’ the day could not have been better for the charity Children’s Hospice South West, which is building its third children’s hospice – the only one in Cornwall.

Neil Caddy, a Pirate FM presenter, was at the site to lay the last slate on the roof, after its listeners raised over £15,000 through a ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign.

The Precious Lives Appeal, which has been fundraising for the building, has now raised almost £4.6 million. The charity hopes the £5 million target will be reached, and the work on the hospice completed, in time for it to open to local families with life-limited children by the end of the year.

Emma Lloyd, head of fundraising for the charity, said: “It is very exciting to see the building work progressing so well at Little Harbour. The building is very nearly watertight now enabling things to move forward inside. Lots of the plastering has been done and some of the bathroom and kitchen facilities have even started to go in, in the family accommodation.”

Children’s Hospice South West will be offering supporters the opportunity to see what they have helped to build through a series of tours before the hospice opens. Contact the office in Truro on 01872 261166 to register interest and receive notification as soon as dates have been fixed. Visit days are currently held each Tuesday in the visitor centre to see the progress of the build from the outside; booking is essential, from the same number.