WORK to more than double the size of a vital respite centre in Southampton has begun.

Foundations were being laid this week in the half-a-million-pound project to expand Rotary House, the respite centre - run by Wessex Heartbeat - for the cardiac unit at Southampton General Hospital.

Heartbeat's director of fundraising Alan Blair was on hand to oversee operations at the site in Tremona Road.

Construction specialists Rok have donated their skills and expertise to lead the project, which should be completed this summer.

The new Rotary House - which incorporates two former neighbouring properties - will double accommodation capacity and contain Heartbeat's headquarters.