A 'DEVASTATED' mother whose late son lived on in Douglas House's name has spoken of her sorrow after its closure.

The hospice for young adults shut its doors in East Oxford for good yesterday, 14 years after the purpose-built centre in Magdalen Road was opened by the Queen.

It was affectionately named in memory of Douglas Bell, whose mum Valerie Bell said she feels 'sad and angry' about the sudden collapse of the centre which bore her son's name.

Earlier this month, Helen & Douglas House announced it would close the adult care centre in August to save its financial situation, and ensure the future of sister hospice Helen House for babies and children.

But on Tuesday families and staff were told Douglas House would close early due to staff shortages, and remaining care bookings were cancelled.

The former chief executive of the charity has said he is distressed by the loss of 'lifeline' services, as has Oxfordshire County Council's Labour group leader.

North Yorkshire resident Mrs Bell said: "I'm devastated. I'm very, very sad and I'm angry for families who had their respite cancelled.

"I feel so much for the people who had been looking forward to the respite. Helen House helped me right through to the end."

Douglas and his sister Penny both had the same life-shortening condition and had regular stays at Helen House.

Douglas died in 1993 aged 24 and was the inspiration for Douglas House, which provided care for adults aged 18 to 35.

Mrs Bell said: "My husband and I were delighted when it was named after Douglas.

"I find it very hard to think that it has closed."

The hospice's founder Sister Frances Dominica was asked to leave in 2015 after unproven allegations against her.

Police dropped the case on the basis of insufficient evidence, but she was not allowed to return to the charity.

Mrs Bell said: "Frances was such a star. If she had still been there, it might not have come to this."

Earlier this month Sister Frances spoke to the Oxford Mail about her desire to be reinstated.

Tom Hill, who was chief executive of Helen & Douglas House for 12 years until 2014, said seeing the demise of Douglas House was like witnessing a 'car crash'.

He said: "I am angry and deeply sad for young people and their families, for whom Douglas House was a lifeline.

"I am distressed by the impact that the closure will have on the lives of my former colleagues, who are losing the jobs they love."

The closure of Douglas House, which the charity has said it is 'truly sorry' for, caused 45 redundancies - fewer than the 60 that were initially predicted in January.

Mr Hill added: "Since my retirement I watched, from a distance, the systematic deconstruction of a fabulous charity on which the worldwide children's hospice movement has been built.

"It has been like watching the proverbial car crash in slow motion.

"Something very wrong has happened to the value base on which Helen & Douglas House was built."

Previously the hospice has stressed that changes made have been in the 'best interests of the charity' in a difficult financial climate, and that high-quality care for its patients remains at its heart.

County councillor Liz Brighouse, leader of the council's Labour group, also raised concerns about the loss of the hospice.

She said: "Many women of my age are devastated by the state of affairs at Helen & Douglas House.

"We came together many years ago behind the inspirational Sister Frances to raise the funds to set up Helen House, which then spawned Douglas House as the children grew into adulthood with the challenges of living with a life limiting illness.

"Those they cared for are to be robbed of a few more weeks of care, support and fun and their families to a much-needed break.

"Those weeks might represent a large percentage of the last weeks of lives plagued by the effects of life limiting illnesses."

In a statement released on Wednesday Clare Periton, the charity's current chief executive, said: "We are truly sorry for the disruption to families who were expecting to stay here next month but we really had no choice.

"We are confident that the difficult decisions taken have secured the future of the charity for decades to come."

She thanked 'remarkable' staff and families for their understanding and support.