Patients and staff at Oxford's Helen and Douglas House are celebrating after taking delivery of a new van and car - worth more than £40,000.

Motor company Toyota handed over a £9,000 Yaris car and a specially converted Hiace van to the East Oxford hospice on Monday.

The donation followed talks with one of the hospice charity's Japanese supporters. The charity has close ties to Japan, with the country's emperor and empress visiting last year.

Toyota Great Britain managing director Miguel Fonseca said: "We hope the two vehicles we are donating will help Helen and Douglas House in its day-to-day activities and support the admirable services it provides."

The Hiace has been specially adapted for wheelchair access, with air conditioning and satellite navigation as additional comforts.

Mr Fonseca added: "We are very pleased that in some small way we are able to help Helen and Douglas House in the very special work that it does."

The charity, which provides respite care for children and young people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, currently has three Vauxhall Astra cars, a Ford Transit minibus which can take up to three wheelchairs, and a Renault Espace people carrier which has been adapted to carry one wheelchair.

The new car will largely be used by the charity's family support and bereavement team to visit families in their homes.

The van will be used for day trips and transportation of hospice visitors.

Helen and Douglas House director of support services David Pastor said: "There is no way we could have justified buying it without the donation.

"There was a lot of time and effort which went into converting the van, as well as the cost, and we just would not have been able to do it.

"We were hoping we would find somebody who would be able to support us, and Toyota came with the right thing at the right time."

He said having the minibus would allow hospice staff to transport all guests staying at Helen House at one time, meaning day trips and excursions could be held for all children.

The hospice has eight bedrooms.

Mr Pastor said: "In the past people have often been travelling on their own in the back of a van, which is not very nice. So having a vehicle in which they can talk to each other is much, much nicer."

He said the vehicles would be used most days.