A SHOPPING centre in Southend is sharing the love with a hospice charity on Valentine’s Day.

On Thursday, The Royals Shopping Centre in Southend will be celebrating with Havens Hospices, which cares for children, young people and adults with life-limiting illnesses and their families from across Essex.

The charity will be raising awareness and fundraising for the new Fair Havens adult’s hospice, which they are building in Prittlewell.

Volunteers from Havens Hospices will be at the centre on Thursday with a Valentine’s Day stand offering a gift-wrapping service and selling single red roses as well as an adopt-a-teddy station and gift sale for anyone looking for the perfect present for their loved one.

The charity will also be joined by the Queen of Hearts who will be holding a romantic raffle. Four lucky winners will each walk away with a Valentine’s hamper.

Carmel Hudson, Havens Hospices Community Fundraising Manager, said: "We’re really looking forward to joining customers and staff at The Royals on Thursday. Havens Hospices can only exist because of the generosity of our community.

"We have to turn 11 patients away from Fair Havens every month so every donation we receive for the new hospice will help us continue to fulfil our promise of ‘making every day count’ for everyone who needs us for as long as we’re needed - thank you."

The Havens Hospices Valentine’s event will be situated in the atrium of The Royals Shopping Centre from 9am to 4pm.

Building work has now started on the new Fair Havens Hospice in Prittlewell, which will have16 in-patient beds, increased day hospice services and additional family support which will enable the care team to care for twice as many patients throughout Southend, Rochford and Castle Point.

The hospice is expected to open in 2020.

Visit www.fairhavensforlife.co.uk.