A NEW cancer centre is opening in Salisbury, providing advice and support for anyone with the disease or their families.

The centre - to be run by the Wessex Cancer Trust - will offer free services from professional counselling and complementary therapies to coaching and nutritional and dietary advice.

But before it opens, it needs donations of furniture and financial help to purchase equipment.

Cait Allen, chief executive of Wessex Cancer Trust, said: "We know that many people find it hard to know where to turn and don’t know what support and advice they might need when they, or a loved one, has been diagnosed with cancer.

"Our vision is to provide effective, local support and information for all people living with or affected by cancer.

"Our centres are specifically designed to give the feeling of comfort so that people feel able to access our support at any stage of their cancer journey.

"We now have premises in Salisbury - a part of Beckett House on Bridge Street in Salisbury - and just need help to get it up and running."

The organisation, which runs centres in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, looks after 2,000 children and adults a year at each centre and is planning on opening the Salisbury one in the autumn.

Offering non-clinical cancer care services for all types of cancers, patients are referred from cancer charities and hospitals. Funding comes via the trust's retail shops and voluntary fundraising.

Head of fundraising Clare Lay said: "We are a charity and run our centres through donations.

"To open the Salisbury centre, we are urgently looking for nearly new furniture such as comfy chairs, sofas, corner bookshelves and coffee tables.

"We are also looking for donations to buy equipment such as hydraulic massage beds, around 60 bath towels and therapy oils."

For more details visit wessexcancer.org.uk or call 02380 672200.

To help support the new centre via donating furniture or funds call Clare on 07468 477834.