A CRICKET club will give half the money raised during a fundraising weekend to Dorothy House Hospice, even though it needs to pay for a new £70,000 pavilion after the old one burned down.

Winsley Cricket Club's annual jazz night and lunch will take place from July 2-4.

Last year the event raised £4,500, of which half was given to Dorothy House hospice, Winsley.

Peter Cross, president of the cricket club, said: "It's a local charity. It does some fantastic work in the village."

He said this year they were determined to raise even more money and aim to hit the £5,000 mark.

Helen Francis, community fundraiser at Dorothy House, said they were delighted by the club's support.

There will be an official opening for the new pavilion by MP Andrew Murrison on July 3.

The old pavilion burned down in April 2003, and police suspect arson even though nobody has ever been charged.

Villagers have donated a lot of time to fundraising. One even gave stone from a garden wall that fell down. The club has held raffles, a race night, skittles evenings and an Irish night at the Dandy Lion pub.

Tickets for the jazz night on July 2 cost £8.50 and tickets for the barn dance on July 3, at 8pm, cost £10. They are available from Peter Cross on (01225) 862831.