CELEBRITY chef and enfant terrible of the UK restaurant scene Marco Pierre White has pledged his long-term support for Claire House during a second visit to the hospice.

The Hell’s Kitchen star returned to the venue this morning to sign copies of his new book - Marco Made Easy.

All proceeds from the book’s sales will go to the charity. It was his second visit to the hospice and while there he met the families of children who use its facilities.

The hospice had run an online auction through its website for the chance to meet him and buy a book which he signed for them on the day.

Following the event, father-of-four Marco, who is opening a restaurant in the former King’s Gap Court Hotel in Hoylake along with jockey Frankie Dettori, told the Globe: “It’s always very humbling and always very emotional to come to Claire House.

"When you drive back to London it’s an incredible leveller. It makes you realise how lucky you are to have been given what you have been given.

"The staff here do so much for so little and there seems very little help. It’s just very sad. I will do whatever I can to assist the hospice in its fundraising efforts.”

Marco left Allerton High School in Leeds without any qualifications and decided to train as a chef. His training began in the kitchen at the Hotel St George in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and later at the Box Tree in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Arriving in London as a 16-year-old, he began his classical training as a commis under Albert Roux and Michel Roux at Le Gavroche. At 24, he became head chef and joint owner of Harveys with a kitchen staff that included the young Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal.

He was awarded his third Michelin star at the age of 33 - the first British and youngest chef ever to achieve this.

Looking back on his career, Marco said: “Visiting Claire House shows, in many ways, how much we have been given in this world and it’s incredibly humbling and almost to the point where I feel guilty for being given what I’ve been given.

“It’s important to give back. I say to my children, God gave us two hands, one to receive and one to give back. I’m back on December 5 to do another book signing just before Christmas.”

During his last visit Marco was in the region at his latest venues – Hotel Indigo in Liverpool city centre and the Swan Inn, Aughton, Lancashire.

He offered a night’s free accommodation at two of his hotels - Swan Inn and Doubletree by Hilton Chester - to a selection of families whose children stay at the hospice.

Recalling his first visit to the Clatterbridge-based hospice, he continued: “I was asked if I would come and visit and see the families and meet the children. I came not knowing what to expect and it was very moving, very sad.

“When I left I said that anything I could to support them I will. I was told that they weren’t guaranteed Government grants, an idea which really hurt me.”

Pat Farragher, fundraising director at Claire House, said: “It’s been absolutely superb. This man has been wonderful.

"He has given up so much time and besides that he has been so personable and lovely with the families and the children; they are thrilled, as are the staff. How much would you ever pay for this sort of thing? It’s priceless.”