Windsor's celebrated Thames Hospice received a boost to its 'raise the roof' campaign - when supporters handed over a cheque for £13,000.

The money will help pay for the hospice's new state of the art home at Bray Lake, built to enable it to move from increasingly cramped conditions in its current Hatch Lane centre.

It was raised at a successful evening organised by the Windsor Fundraising Group at the Meat at the Parish restaurant in High Street, where forty guests were treated to a four-course meal prepared by restaurant proprietors Leo and Annalise Charmantas with wine sponsored by Italian Continental Stores and Boutinot wines in Maidenhead.

The highlight of the evening was the post-meal auction, which saw event organiser Gordon Ritchie take to the floor with his auctioneer’s gavel to encourage the highest bids possible for auction prizes donated by local businesses and individuals.

This is the third event organised by Gordon and Hilary Ritchie and their fundraising partners at the Windsor Fundraising Group, which has now raised a total of almost £30.000 for Thames Hospice.

Mr Ritchie said: “As a charity, the hospice's reliance on donations and good-will is paramount to enable it to continue to provide for the local community and we very much hope our contributions to date will go some way to ensuring its future.”