ROTARY clubs have given a cash-strapped hospice an early Christmas present.

Four local rotary clubs - Stockton, Billingham, Tees-side West and Thornaby and Yarm clubs - came together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary movement last year and raised more than £4,500 for the Middlesbrough-based Teesside Hospice.

Maureen Thompson, chief executive of Teesside Hospice, said: "We are delighted to receive such a generous donation and would like to thank all four Rotary clubs for their hard work in raising funds for Teesside Hospice during the past year."

Bill Pickersgill, who acted as lead chairman for the Rotary clubs, said: " We are delighted to have been able to raise funds for such a worthwhile local charity."

Fundraising efforts included a sponsored bell boat race at Castlegate Quay, Stockton in July and a successful gala concert held at Tall Trees Hotel, Yarm, last month.

Teesside Hospice has running costs of more than £1.8m a year and receives approximately one third of this from the local National Health Service.

The hospice needs to raise £3,200 each day to operate services to local people with life- limiting illnesses.