A CHARITY tea party pulled in the pounds for a Basingstoke hospice last month.

Around 200 people, including Basingstoke MP Maria Miller and the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Anne Court, attended a special tea party to raise funds for St Michael’s Hospice, in Aldermaston Road.

The event, which took place at Kempshott Village Hall, in Pack Lane on June 7, pulled in an impressive £2,491 for the hospice with more donations expected.

Marie Chandler organised the event as a way to raise funds and awareness of the hospice after her mother-in-law Sandra Rooney spent the last six weeks there before she passed away on March 12.

Sandra, who was 68, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2010 and it later spread to her pancreas.

Marie, of Teal Crescent, Kempshott, told The Gazette: "I lost my mother-in-law 11 weeks ago and she spent her last six weeks of life at St Michael’s Hospice and we got to know everyone so well and we were so impressed with the facilities and the services so I wanted to give something back.

"I wanted to say thank you to them for everything they did for us. They were brilliant with the family and gave us the guidance we needed to get through that time. They are just an amazing group."

As well as a selection of homemade cakes available on the day, children attending the event could enjoy a number of different activities including an army truck from Southampton, a bouncy castle and a colouring competition and people could purchase a special song recorded by Basingstoke singer Steph Oszczyk to raise funds for the hospice.

A number of prizes were also up for grabs in a raffle with prizes including a six-week membership at Fitness First in Chineham, a meal for two at The Raj in Black Dam and a £50 voucher for Mariannes Hair Salon in Black Dam.

Maria Miller also presented members of the 1st Kempshott Brownies with their hostess badge after they helped out on the day and made decorations for the event.

Marie, who is 38, added: "The event went very well. All in all we have raised just under £2,500 and I am very pleased with that."

Daisy Mitchell, community events co-ordinator at the hospice, said: "It was a great community event and it is fantastic to have raised all of that money from one event.

"We are hugely grateful for the support from the community and the money raised was a fantastic amount."