people at the Newton Abbot Charity Town Ball at the Grand Hotel, Torquay, dug deeply into their pockets and purses and raised £1,600 for Rowcroft Hospice on Saturday.

Guests were also invited to nominate a charity of their choice to receive a £100 donation.

Three names were drawn, and it was decided to donate £200 to Macmillan. a further £100 was given to Rowcroft.

Chairman Keith Stokes-Smith said: 'It was, I believe, a very good night and a very busy night with plenty of variety.

'We were thrilled to see so many new guests and indeed to welcome many of our regulars.

'We were so pleased to have raised so much on the evening for our 2009 chosen charity as I feared, unnecessarily so on this occasion, that the recession and credit crunch would understandably take its toll. However, the framed Peter Shilton England shirt raised £250 with the use of a holiday villa in Spain also fetching a good price.'

Mr Stokes-Smith thanked those who supported the event, including the organising committee, guests, those who donated raffIe and auction prizes, the entertainers and the sponsors of the programme.

Photographer Alan Craig was on hand to take pictures of guests at the event.

He will donate a percentage of profits from photo sales to Rowcroft Hospice.

A gallery of photos is now available at http://www.alancraigphotos.co.uk">www.alancraigphotos.co.uk.