BUILDING works on Newport’s new St David’s Hospice building can be watched online on a live picture blog.

The £5million construction project is being built on a site donated by Newport City Council and its progress can be watched on an online photo feed which is updated every 15 minutes.

The hospice has been funded through £3million from the Welsh Government and contributions from The Big Lottery Fund and Albert Hunt Trust.

The specialist 14-bed hospice will be run by St David’s Hospice Care, working in partnership with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Newport City Council.

Welsh Government health and social services minister, Mark Drakeford, believes the investment will allow St David’s Hospice Care to deliver patient and family-led services.

He added that the charity has developed a “palliative care model” which is "recognised as an example of first class care.”

St David’s Hospice Care serves a population of over 600,000 across Gwent, looking after more than 3,000 patients every year.

Staff care for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses such as end-stage heart failure and motor neurone disease.

The new inpatient centre is due to open in June 2017 after a 60 week construction programme and will replace the existing ten-bed St Anne’s Hospice unit.

The main contractors are Andrew Scott, while Newport-based Whitehead will carry out the mechanical and electrical work on the new hospice.

To follow the progress of the new centre, follow @sdfhc_BuildPics on twitter.