A MOTHER has expressed her delight now that plans to build a dream holiday home for seriously ill children have been approved.

Jane Gates heard the news last Wednesday night that members of Basingstoke and Deane Council had unanimously backed plans to build the home in North Waltham, Hampshire, close to the A30 and the M3.

The home was the dream of her son Sebastian, who died on Christmas Eve 2003 from a rare form of a childhood cancer known as a Wilm's Tumour.

Jane, who is director of Sebastian's Action Trust, said: "I am absolutely over the moon about this, it is fantastic news that we have the go-ahead on this. I have so many people to thank.

"For the past three months people have been working hard on this, especially Mark Fitzpatrick and Hugo Hague who have been involved in the planning process from the start." The holiday home will be the first of its kind in the UK and will boast two four-bedroom units, one of which will be primarily for families from Hampshire, a pool, spa, games room, music room, sensory room and wet play area.

Building will start in three months once the legal process has been completed and the conditions put on the application have been conformed with.

Jane, who lives in Ascot, said: "We want the house to be primarily run by one person who will act as a caretaker and housekeeper.

"We have a volunteer who has lost a child themselves and is very passionate about the cause, and they would be the perfect person for this role. "There are so many people who have been involved in this, so many that I need to thank.

"We wouldn't be able to do this without the help of volunteers, we have such a good team here. It is hoped once the building starts that it will completed in time for the sixth anniversary of Sebastian's death at Christmas 2009.

Jane added: "We wouldn't have been able to do this without the Bracknell News, from when Sarah Clark was a reporter there and then came to join us at the trust, until now.

"They have been there at every stage of our campaign.

"I really want to thank the people of Bracknell.

"We are very proud to be a Bracknell-based charity and we want to thank everyone who has helped along the way including the people who come in to our bookshop here in town every day."