THREE sisters who lost their mother to cancer have raised thousands of pounds to thank the doctors and nurses who looked after her.

Jane West, 28, Elizabeth Seagrave, 19, and Julie Meale, 24, from West Auckland, have presented a cheque for £8,750 to Dr Mamoud and nurses at the Mara Unit, at Bishop Auckland Hospital.

Their mother, Emily Seagrave, died on November 13, aged 55.

A presentation at the Bridge Inn in Ramshaw, West Auckland, was held on Friday to thank the staff for their dedication over the ten months their mother was a patient.

Jane said: "We were really taken aback with how intense the care on the Mara Unit was and how lovely the nurses were.

"We wanted to give something back to them for how much they helped our mum."

Before she died, Emily watched her daughters organise a charity ball to raise money for the unit.

Jane said: "She was really pleased about us wanting to raise money.

"She really wanted to go, but she was too ill. But she helped us get ready and I think she was really proud."

The Ramside Hall ball, on October 8, in Carville, Durham, was so successful that the daughters are thinking of holding an annual event for Mara, in their mother's name.

Elizabeth said: "It's not just about keeping mum's memory alive, she will always be alive in our memories, it helps us knowing that the money will help others."

Julie said: "The fact that our mum was so proud of us makes us want to do it again next year."

The family would like to thank everybody who helped their fundraising.