THERE was a special treat in store for children under the care of a children’s hospice.

It was a free trip to the circus and a chance to meet the performers.

The children being cared for by Demelza House, their parents, carers and staff at the hospice had a performance from the Festival Big Top Circus all to themselves after Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in Maidstone Road, Sidcup, bought all the tickets for an entire show.

Demelza, which is based in Sittingbourne, is now building a six-bed unit in Eltham.

Garden centre director James Evans said: “We were looking to adopt an official charity earlier this year and, with Demelza’s extension into our catchment area, it seemed like the ideal cause.”

The circus was performing at the garden centre for four days last week, so Ruxley decided to devote one performance to the children.