Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday met four-year-old palliative care patient Ruby Holden, who is to benefit from the appointment of nurses named after the late Princess Diana.

The youngster, from Balerno, Edinburgh, was among a group who at the Rachel House Children's Hospice in Kinross who will receive care from the first Diana Children's Nurses in Scotland.

The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Labour MP, who as Chancellor, had chaired the UK Government's Diana Memorial Committee said: "I am delighted that Children's Hospice Association ­Scotland (Chas) will ­establish a team of three Diana Children's Nurses. They will help the most vulnerable children in the greatest need and will fulfil both the ambition of Princess Diana and the objectives we set down many years ago to remember ­Princess Diana's service to the community in the most positive of ways."

The Diana Children's Nurses will be funded by up to £275,000 each year, considered to be in perpetuity, from the Scottish Government using funds that were allocated by the UK Government in honour of the princess, who died in a car accident in Paris in 1997.

In addition to Ruby, Mr Brown met six-year-old Erin Jarrett, from Cupar while they were on a respite break.

Children and families who receive support from Chas had created a picture of the late princess to mark the announcement.