A LATE Christmas gift was presented by Marlborough and District Rotary Club to the Helen and Douglas Hospice in the form of a £2,500 cheque.

The sum was raised at the club's Santa's Grotto event and the supportive collections at the town's light switch on in aid of the Oxford charity.

President Sally Wolfenden and member Geoff Oades were given a tour of the hospice this week and it was there they gleefully handed over the cheque, which will go towards providing specialist equipment, to Lauren Kemp, the hospice's communications and events manager.

Mr Oades said: "Marlborough Rotary is very proud that each year Santa’s Grotto provides much enjoyment to young children at Christmas as well as raising money for such wonderful places as Helen and Douglas House and their dedicated staff.

"We were delighted to have raised this much money for them. It was lovely to see how appreciative they were and getting a tour of the place, gives you an understanding of the brilliant work that goes on here.

"It is an amazing facility and the workers do their utmost to keep the children stimulated and happy, and they do that so well.

"So when we gave them the cheque in person it was a lovely feeling as we know it will go to a great cause."

Helen House was the world’s first children’s hospice, set up in 1982 by Frances Dominica to provide respite care to families with children suffering from life-limiting conditions.

After a couple of decades, they realised that similar hospice facilities were needed for young adults of 18 and above and Douglas House was set up in 2004.