A new centre to help young disabled children has been opened in Devon.

The £1.8m children's assessment centre has been built next to Vranch House School in Exeter.

It is part of a series of changes being carried out by NHS Devon aimed at improving the provision of specialist assessment services for young children with additional needs.

The centre is also aimed at ensuring children with the most profound disabilities receive the support they need.

The purpose-built centre has consulting rooms, assessment rooms, a physiotherapy department, a toy library and an outpatient area.

Julie Spier, a parent of a child who will use the new centre, said: "This is a fantastic investment for the children of Exeter which will give families like ours, who have children with complex medical needs, a new comfortable environment whilst we go through the process of assessment and support in their early years."

The project was jointly funded by Vranch House, a charitable partner to NHS Devon and Devon County Council, which contributed £800,000. A further £1 million donation was made by Hutchison Wampoa Europe Ltd. In acknowledgement, the new building has been officially named the Hutchison Whampoa Honeylands Children's Assessment Centre.