Is there a way to add an initial line to a paragraph with line spacing=Double?

[rogerparkinson]

Is there a way to add an initial line to a paragraph with line spacing=Double?
I know about the Spacing…above paragraph but that gives me a fixed measurement ie not proportional to the font.
What I am specifically trying to do is create a section break (not a page break) with a centered asterisk and a line above and below. I’m trying to do this by adding a line with one asterisk and styling it centered, double line spacing, but although I get a line below I don’t get a line above.

Thanks for any help

Roger

LibreOffice 4.2.8.2
Xubuntu 14.04

[Edit: added lo4.2.8 + xubuntu14.04 tags]

[AlexKemp]

As a quick hack, why not use a nbsp (U+00A0) char?

If this helps then please tick the answer ()