A GROUP of friends raised £3,550 for St Luke’s Hospice and Macmillan Cancer care with a night of live music.

Louise Payne, 39, of Ash Way, Corringham, and friends Theresa Bigwood and Tracey Wallace organised the event at East Thurrock United Football Club, in Corringham.

They were inspired to organise the fundraiser by the tenth anniversary of the death of their friend, Debbie Billingham. She died of cancer on October 19, 1998.

The night included performances by the band Midnight Hour, Elvis impersonator Dave Bates, from Corringham, and DJ Bradley Bines, all of whom performed for free.

The women presented a cheque to representatives from St Luke’s Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Care during the town’s annual winter fair.

Louise said: “It was a brilliant night, with about 400 people turning up. We’ve been asked to make it an annual event.”