HOSPICE staff have thanked everyone for signing up for an annual raffle draw which has it earned it more than £14,000.

Every year Hartlepool & District Hospice holds a Christmas raffle, which helps to raise much-needed cash for the charity before the relatively quiet fundraising New Year period.

People bought tickets in the hope of winning the first prize of £2,000 cash and hospice staff said supporters’ goodwill helped to raise £14,439.

John Martindale, fundraising manager at the Wells Avenue-based hospice, said: “We have a raffle at Christmas and another one in spring and they both normally raise around £14,000, which is obviously a huge boost for us.

“At Christmas time especially, people in Hartlepool and East Durham tend to be extra generous before the New Year which can sometimes be a quiet time of year.”

The winning ticket of the first prize in the Christmas raffle was number 45244.

Ticket number 49152 won the second prize of £500 while the third prize of £250 went to ticket number 41506.

He added: “I have already started the planning for the spring raffle and hopefully that will be as successful as this one.

“We mail the tickets out to people who want to take part and if anybody wants any books they should get in touch.”

To take part in the next hospice raffle contact Mr Martindale on 01429-855533 for further details.