HOMES and Gardens were the theme of a ladies day which raised more than £1,500 for hospice patients.

The event at the Hallgarth Country House Hotel, at Coatham Mundeville, was organised by The Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland, with support from Barclays and Lloyds TSB.

Creative displays from Forget Me Not Floristry and Cameo Fine Art, from Bishop Auckland, opened the programme.

Warrens Electrical, from Bishop Auckland, showed lights, pendants and shades while Ray O'Brien, from Durham gave a talk on fuchsias and demonstrated how to fill a winter hanging basket.

Among the 180 guests was Councillor Marie Predki, the Mayor of Sedgefield Borough Council, who has nominated the hospice as the charity she will support during her year in office.