When the High Sheriff of Worcestershire said "come and have a picnic at my place and listen to some great music", plenty of people didn't need to be told twice -- especially as it was all in such a good cause.

THE laid-back sounds of swing and jazz rang out across the village of Bransford when the Jack Daniels Big Band entertained the crowds at a charity picnic event.

Hundreds of people packed a picnic basket and turned up in force at Bransford Manor - the home of estate agent and High Sheriff of Worcestershire Andrew Grant, who opened up the grounds for the occasion.

Mr Grant - who is also chairman of the St Richard's New Hospice Appeal - organised the event to help raise cash towards the final £350,000 which is still needed to build a new £5.25m hospice in Wildwood Way, Spetchley, near Worcester. Sister Mary Joseph, Tricia Cavell and Marilyn Peachey, all from St Richard's Hospice, with six year-old Frederik Grant and his dad Andrew, who opened the grounds of his Bransford Manor home to raise money to complete a new hospice in Worcester. Pictures by Sarah Jeynes.

The event, which was sponsored by the Worcester News, included a bouncy castle and a fire engine to entertain youngsters.

There was also a grand raffle offering prizes such as a PlayStation, an overnight stay in the four-poster bed suite at The Whitehouse Hotel in Foregate Street, Worcester, and a meal for two at the Chateau Impney, Droitwich.

Tina Stanley, who helped organise the event, said it had been a huge success. "The weather held out for us and everybody who came said they had a wonderful time," she said.

"At the same time, we managed to raise a lot of money for a fabulous cause."