AFTER almost five years of fundraising, local charity Ellie's Haven has taken a giant leap forward.

Looe couple Nigel and Julie Libby now have the keys to a property which will unlock their dream to open a holiday retreat for families with children suffering long-term or life-threatening illnesses.

The purchase of the property, on the edge of Duloe and currently called Home Park, has been completed at a cost of £387,500. Caunters Solicitors, of Liskeard, handled the conveyancing and waived its fees in support of the charity. The property will now be known as Ellie's Haven.

The Libbys founded Ellie's Haven, naming the charity after their little daughter Ellie, who was born with a complex medical condition and needed round-the-clock care.

From their own experience of needing a break as a family, the idea was planted that it would be wonderful if there was a holiday home for families with seriously ill children like themselves.

In January this year, Ellie died, a few weeks before her seventh birthday. At the time, television personality and South East Cornwall resident Richard Madeley, who along with his wife Judy Finnigan is a patron of Ellie's Haven, wrote in tribute: 'Without Ellie there could be no Ellie's Haven, which despite setbacks will undoubtedly come into being in the future. That will be a marvellous memory to what was, for all its profound difficulties, a meaningful and beloved life.'

Speaking this week, Julie said: 'This is a big breakthrough for us.'

Nigel said: 'The house and large garage gives us a good starting point for creating our holiday haven.'

The charity plans to extend and modify the house.

'We've raised almost £420,000 since we started Ellie's Haven,' said Nigel. 'We have been amazed and humbled by the huge support we've had, much of it from the public and local schools, community groups and businesses.' 

The charity will need to raise around £250,000 more before it can start construction work.

The trustees hope to raise this within two years so that Ellie's Haven can start offering breaks in 2015.