More than £250,000 was raised at the Firecracker Ball in aid of Barnardo’s in Yorkshire.

The Brazilian carnival themed ball welcomed 680 guests including singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Rudding Park, Harrogate. Barnardo’s vice president and chair of the Firecracker Ball committee Phil Taylor thanked the event organising team and ‘the astonishing generosity of the people of Yorkshire who come every year and dig so very, very deep for such a wonderful charity’.

All funds raised on the night will be donated to Barnardo’s in Yorkshire which each year helps almost 14,000 children, young people and their families in over 80 specialised projects in local communities. Since the first Firecracker Ball for Barnardo’s in 2002, the event has raised more than £2.8 million. u