Richmond residents have raised £11,000 for a Darlington cancer hospice over the past 12 months.

A cheque for £3,000 was handed over at the annual meeting of the town's St Teresa's Support Group - taking the annual total higher than before.

Local WIs, Soroptimists, Rotary clubs and the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, based at Catterick Garrison, are among those who contributed most.

However, hospice director, Jane Bradshaw paid tribute to everyone who helped raise money, adding that it helped both full-time and volunteer supporters to know there is such strong support in North Yorkshire.

Events in the pipeline for the coming year include Opera Nova, an evening of French operetta at the Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, on Saturday, May 12.

A Sunday Market at Catterick Racecourse and a craft fair in Richmond have already taken the total raised in 2001 to nearly £700.