A FUND-raising group has proved it is top of the house after raising more than £1,000 from a charity bingo session.

Betty Colley and her team collected £1,332.50 for St Richard's Hospice from their annual bingo session at the Peace Hall, Sinton Green, near Worcester.

"Betty's Bingo is now an established event in the fund-raising calendar and everyone in the village gets involved," said Hilary Jones, community fund-raiser at the hospice based in Rose Hill, Worcester.

"It was great to get such a commitment from volunteers like Betty, who encourage and enthuse others."

Meanwhile, a Cotswold drinks company has offered to underwrite the hospice's annual sponsored walk which should have taken place in May, but was postponed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

St Richard's director of fund-raising, Marilyn Peachey, said members of staff were "thrilled" to be given the boost by the Bottle Green Drinks Company.

The annual sponsored walk is one of the biggest events for St Richard's and it will now take place on Saturday, September 22.