A DEDICATED fundraiser has raised an incredible £10,000 for her chosen charity.

Hilda Phillips, of Dene Bank Grange, Ferryhill, started collecting money for the Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland, before it opened.

She has remained a staunch supporter since the opening ten years ago and in that time has organised countless coffee mornings, raffles and made craft goods to sell for funds.

Mrs Phillips said: "I've supported the Butterwick Hospice since the building was just a shell, and I couldn't have done it without the support of my friends and neighbours, and especially Russell Hunter, who is a hospice volunteer, and Jennifer Gash, a warden."

Mrs Phillips has no intention of slowing down and has just held her latest event, a coffee morning, which raised a further £790.

Sylvia Stoneham, of the hospice, said: "Hilda is a great supporter. She and her friends have worked really hard over the years, and have great support from their community as a whole. I'm so pleased to be collecting their latest donation, particularly during our tenth anniversary year."