THE Orders of St John Care Trust’s (OSJCT) new £7.5 million Ashwood Care Centre was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Troughton, in Warminster on Wednesday.

Mrs Troughton toured the care home for older people, met residents and unveiled a commemorative plaque.

Ashwood, in Gipsy Lane, provides specialist nursing and dementia care and short-term respite care.

It has 82 beds, divided into six separate household units, each self-contained with communal dining and lounge areas and assisted-bathing facilities.

Don Wood, OSJCT’s chairman, said: “Now that its doors are open we’re confident that Ashwood and the specialist care it offers will be a great asset to the Warminster area.

"We also encourage those within the local community to get involved with the home by becoming volunteers and spending time with our wonderful residents.”

The home also has a shop and tearoom, hair salon and cinema.