19 October 2010 Last updated at 08:42 ET

Duchess of Cornwall opens Cheltenham cancer care centre

The Duchess of Cornwall has been president of Maggie's Cancer Care Centres since 2008

• In pictures: Camilla opens cancer care centre

The Duchess of Cornwall has formally opened a new multi-million pound cancer care centre in Gloucestershire.

Camilla was invited to tour the Maggie's Cheltenham facility which will serve more than one million people.

"Under one extraordinary roof, Maggie's will help people to find their way out of the hopelessness of cancer," said chief executive Laura Lee.

No appointment or referral is necessary to receive free support at the centre for any problem associated with cancer.

'Tremendous effort'

The Gloucestershire facility, based at Cheltenham General Hospital, will also serve the populations of Herefordshire, South Worcestershire and parts of Powys.

There are more than 5,400 new cases of cancer each year within this area, according to the charity.

"People across the region have put a tremendous effort into fundraising to make this centre a reality," added Ms Lee.

"Today the local community should be proud of the lasting legacy they have created for the thousands affected by the devastating consequences of cancer."

Maggie's Centres are the vision of designer and landscape architect Maggie Keswick Jencks which resulted from her own experience of cancer.