A Cheshire GP got together with her friends to stage a ball at the Stanneylands Hotel, near Wilmslow, in aid of a local hospice.

The glamorous event raised over £4,000. Chester-based GP Pippa McGoldrick spent time working in the Marie Curie Hospice for Dr John Ellershaw and has organised fund-raising activites before.

‘This year I wanted to do something fun so I decided to hold this black tie ball. This was spurred on by the fact that my mum-in-law sadly passed away from cancer and the increasing awareness that it costs £41,600 a day for the Marie Curie Hospice to run, mainly funded by donations,’ she said.

Guests enjoyed a champagne reception, dinner, charity auction and raffle.

Pippa said: ‘I’m delighted the occasion raised just over £4,000. One of the reasons I’m keen to get the publicity for this event is that we hope to hold a similar ball at the St George’s Hall next year.’