Lord and Lady Ashbrook hosted a champagne and canapés evening at Arley Hall, their home near Northwich.

The aim was to raise funds for Hill House, a Leonard Cheshire residential care home in Sandbach. Lively auctions were held, officiated by auctioneer Rick Dallimore from Meller Braggins, and over £50,000 was raised, considerably more than had been expected.

Annie Maddocks, manager at Hill House, said: ‘We are most grateful to Lord Ashbrook and all the other committee members, who worked so hard to organise such a wonderful event. The amazing amount raised will enable us to create a Horticultural Therapy Centre which will benefit the residents and other disabled people in Cheshire.’