Ayrshire Hospice is to receive extra support this year after council workers voted it as their charity of choice.

The partnership will see South Ayrshire Council staff promote the hospice and work with the charity to raise funds and provide volunteers for the coming 12 months.

It kicks off on Saturday with the tenth annual Land o' Burns Starlight Walk at Ayr Racecourse, which will be the first event actively supported by the council.

Depute South Ayrshire Provost William Grant said: "We're committed to making life better in South Ayrshire and see Ayrshire Hospice as an organisation with common values, with the charity playing a vital role for individuals and their families.

"We'll be working closely with the charity to make sure we promote their work to as broad an audience as possible, with staff urged to get involved where they can, while businesses will also be encouraged to support this worthwhile organisation.

"I'm looking forward to seeing our relationship develop in the months ahead as we work hard to champion Ayrshire Hospice, and I'm confident the new partnership will be a great success."

The hospice said it cost almost £7.6m last year to run its services - almost £21,000 per day.

More than £4.6m of that total was raised through voluntary donations.

Mandy Yule, hospice chief executive, said: "The partnership will build on the excellent and enduring relationship both organisations have enjoyed over the past 29 years and will go a long way to helping us meet the year on year demand for hospice services - not only at our facilities on Racecourse Road in Ayr but also through our community nursing teams who deliver invaluable services to patients and families in neighbourhoods across Ayrshire."