The Gillian Saltire House in Largs swung into action this week with a local golfing legend jetting in specially for the occasion.

Ryder Golf Cup winner and Largs man, Sam Torrance MBE, attended the opening and welcomed the first of many guests to the beautifully furnished, spacious two-bedroom flat - a free-to-use holiday home that will be solely for people affected by cancer.

Sam was a surprise guest, having jetted in specially from London to attend the opening without the knowledge of Gillian Saltire Appeal Trust chairman Les Ward, a personal friend.

The home in Waterside Street is the culmination of heavy fundraising from the Gillian Saltire Appeal Trust - a charity set up in the memory of Largs woman, Gillian Ward, who died of breast cancer in December 2005.

It represents a remarkable achievement after just a year and a half of intensive fundraising efforts, and first guests John and Barbera Erwin were delighted with what they found.

Trustees of the appeal will now be making as many people as possible aware of the opportunity to sign up for a family retreat to the house. Meanwhile, staff at Maggie"s Cancer Caring Centre at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow - which aims to equip people with the tools to build a life beyond cancer - will let their centre users know of the chance to book the property.

Gillian"s husband, Les Ward said: 'We started raising money with the objective of buying an electronic bed worth �5000 in Gillian"s memory.

'But support in the local community was so high that the bar was raised and we began thinking in terms of not just one bed but walls, a floor and a roof to go with it.

'Within 18 months we had raised over �100,000. Setting up this house has honoured Gillian"s memory in a practical and meaningful way and I know she"d be really proud of what we"ve done.' Throughout the appeal, Les - who runs Wards in Tron Place, Largs, has been assisted by his fellow Appeal Trustees, Brian Tracey, who manages an offshore catering facility and David Ennis OBE, who is an honorary professor of Stirling University.

Les said: 'We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received, from the schools to the local community as a whole. But I have got to say that David Ennis has held the whole thing together. In terms of administration and accounts we couldn"t have done it without him.' Referring to his surprise guest, he added: 'Sam is a long-term personal friend of mine. He has always been aware of what we have been trying to achieve.' Sam said: 'Of course, the appeal is close to my heart, but then Les is close to my heart. It"s a pleasure to be here and the house is absolutely fantastic. Out of the bad some definite good has come.' The fundraising campaign was named the Gillian Saltire Appeal Trust because a huge saltire was seen in the sky above the family home on the day of Gillian"s funeral.

The Ward family also have a great affection for Scotland, with Gillian having helped her two sons, Scott, 15, and Jason, 14, to write a song entitled "Under The Saltire" that was recorded and sung by pupils from Kelburn Primary School.