A BEREAVEMENT suite at a Hampshire maternity unit has been reopened after a refurbishment.

The reopening of the Butterfly Suite at Florence Portal House at Winchester’s Royal Hampshire County Hospital was celebrated by midwives and former patients who have lost young ones.

Claire Ward, 35, from Eastleigh was inspired to make the room a nicer place after her daughter Evelyn was stillborn at the hospital in March of last year.

She set about raising £4,000 for the refurbishment, by taking part in sponsored walks and creating craft products.

Her friend Hayley Evans, from Eastleigh, who also had a stillborn baby at the hospital, did a skydive to raise funds for a cuddle cot.

The cot, which has Evelyn’s name on it, will give parents extra time with their baby.

Claire hopes that the room can help families in their darkest hours.

“It looks amazing now,” she said. “It had not been touched in 10 years, it was in a bad state of repair.

“Now it looks nice and fresh like a home-from-home.”