Severn Hospice has revealed 46 people donated a total of £1,060,000 through legacies.

The charity, which provides end of life care to patients and their families from across Shropshire and Mid Wales, is highlighting the importance of legacies to its survival as part of the national Remember a Charity Week campaign.

Gifts in wills are a vital source of income for Severn Hospice, making up around one-third of the total money it has to raise every year to fund its services.

Legacies helped fund treatment and support for 20 per cent of the patients cared for by Severn Hospice last year.

Staff at Severn Hospice have paid tribute to all those who have left a bequest since the charity was founded in 1989 by installing a commemorative copper legacy tree in its grounds.

Each leaf is engraved with a name as a lasting tribute to that person’s bequest.

Norma Ross, Severn Hospice appeals director, said: “Remember a Charity Week not only provides a focus for us to raise awareness about legacies, it also gives an opportunity to reflect on the kindness of those who have left a bequest and all that their generosity has helped us achieve.

“Gifts in wills helped pay for loving care for 560 our patients last year and this is a fitting tribute to those who left a bequest to us.

“The current economic climate has resulted in a fall in our general donations which makes the contributions we receive from legacies even more important.

“We know that many people are understandably tightening their belts during this period of financial austerity and so bequests are a wonderful way to support the Hospice by leaving a future gift which will help us to continue providing our special kind of care to local people for years to come.”

Remember a Charity Week, which runs from 12 September until Sunday, was set up to encourage more people to leave a gift to charity in their will once they have looked after their loved ones.