DAME Norma Major helped a Huntingdon charity celebrate its birthday in style. The wife of the former Prime Minister, Sir John Major visited volunteers of Welcome Home From Hospital at a special coffee morning at the Saxongate Community Learning Centre in

DAME Norma Major helped a Huntingdon charity celebrate its birthday in style.

The wife of the former Prime Minister, Sir John Major visited volunteers of Welcome Home From Hospital at a special coffee morning at the Saxongate Community Learning Centre in the town on Friday.

Dame Norma launched the scheme in 2006 and since then it has helped more than 200 patients settle back home after a stay in hospital.

Volunteers help people with shopping, collecting pensions and prescriptions or even just stopping by for a chat during their first two weeks back at home.

Welcome Home from Hospital is run by local charity Care Network Cambridgeshire, which also does community development work advising and helping rural communities set up Good Neighbour and Car Share schemes tailored to address the local needs.

Huntingdon co-ordinator Lesley Griffey said: "It's a great scheme, which offers practical real help to real people and it is very rewarding for the volunteers too. We desperately need more volunteers across the district so if you are interested in helping out, or you would like to use our service, please call the team."

INFORMATION: Welcome Home From Hospital can be contacted on 01480 423065.