BIG BROTHER star Craig Phillips is the latest to support struggling Helen & Douglas House and will use his wedding to fundraise for the hospice.

The reality contestant, who won the first ever series of Big Brother, will say ‘I do’ to fiancé Laura Sherriff at Cheshire’s Peckforton Castle in front of 200 guests on Friday.

Rather than accepting wedding presents for themselves, the couple have requested gift donations to the East Oxford charity.

Miss Sheriff's wedding dress will also be auctioned off to raise more funds.

Mr Phillips explained there was a personal reason for the decision, saying: “Laura’s brother, Daniel, was diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after he was born.

"He battled with the disease for three years and towards the end of his short life, he was in a lot of pain but there was nothing more the doctors could do for him."

Daniel was looked after at the hospice and Mr Phillips said the family was overwhelmed by the care he received.

He added: "Within 10 minutes of his arrival the hospice had done what the local doctors couldn’t, they gave Daniel a place to find comfort and gave Laura’s family the chance make the most of the time they had left with their son.”

Last week Helen & Douglas House announced it will shut Douglas House in Magdalen Road in August, warning the entire hospice would be forced to close in two years if it did not take drastic action to slash expenditure.

It will spell the end of the palliative care hospice's adult services and bring 60 redundancies, but care for children will continue through neighbouring Helen House.