Employees at chartered accountants Hazlewoods have raised more than £11,000 for their charity of the year - the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court hospice.

They took part in a variety of fundraising events to help bring in £11,273.26 for the hospice, which must raise £2million every year to continue to provide free-of-charge essential services to communities across Gloucestershire.

These services include inpatient care, day services, community services, family and bereavement support, rehabilitation, complementary therapies, spiritual care, hospice at home and befriending.

John Lucas, partner of Hazlewoods social committee, said "We are delighted that our community-minded staff have worked together to raise this amount for Sue Ryder this year.

"We have a long track record of raising significant funds for local charities and we look forward to helping Sue Ryder continue to provide the care and support which benefit so many patients and their families."

Hazlewoods staff raise money through a variety of activities each year, including sponsored sporting events, dress down days, a quiz and a staff summer fete.

Elise Hoadley, hospice director at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: "We hope everyone at Hazlewoods feels proud of the fantastic amount of money they have raised for our hospice.

"We want to say a great big thank you to each and every single member of staff for their incredible support.

"The funds they have so generously raised will help us continue to give around the clock specialist care for people living with a life limiting condition in Gloucestershire, supporting their families too."

"As a charity, partnerships like this are extremely important in helping us raise the £8,000 a day needed to keep all our services running, and tell more people about what we do."

Picture: left to right, Ruby Wallace (Hazlewoods), Gill Forbes (Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court), Elise Hoadley (Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court) and John Lucas (Hazlewoods)