A special name has been announced for a new £710,000 information and support centre (ISC) which will care for people with life-limiting illnesses.

Eastern Daily Press: The logo for the new Pear Tree Centre. Picture: Courtesy of HCNCF.The logo for the new Pear Tree Centre. Picture: Courtesy of HCNCF. (Image: Archant)

The centre, which is earmarked for land next to Cutlers Hill Surgery in Halesworth, will be called The Pear Tree Centre.

The building will be named after a large pear tree which will form the focal point of the centre's garden and a new logo has been created by local designers Jacky and Bob Linney. It shows a pear tree which doubles up as a person with their arms outstretched to convey the welcoming atmosphere the new centre will have.

Ted Edwards, ISC chairman, said: 'We are really pleased to name the centre after what will be one of the main features of its relaxing garden.

'We are also grateful to Jacky and Bob for creating our new logo which cleverly represents the name while also reflecting the warm, welcoming environment which the centre will provide to patients and their families.'

The name was unveiled by Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund (HCNCF), the charity behind the project, today.

The centre will bring a wide range of services closer to home for people with life-limiting illnesses in north east Suffolk and south Norfolk, including help understanding a diagnosis, wellbeing advice, complementary therapies, legal guidance and support for children and families.

HCNCF announced it had hit its fundraising target in October last year after a generous donation from the Patrick Stead League of Friends.

However charity trustees announced earlier this month that building work which was due to start at the end of this year had now been delayed.

They said technical issues around access to services such as electricity and drainage, coupled with complications about the sale of the land, had meant the work had been temporarily put on hold.

It is now hoped construction of The Pear Tree Centre will begin in 2018.

Mr Edwards said: 'We fully appreciate just how frustrating this news must be to everyone who has so kindly supported us, but remain committed to bringing this valuable facility to Halesworth as soon as we can for the benefit of people across north east Suffolk and south Norfolk.'