A RAMSBOTTOM firm has raised a huge £9,500 for Bury Hospice after holding a series of events throughout 2019.

Staff at insurance brokers Munro Greenhalgh have held a cyclethon, a six-a-side cricket tournament and a 007-themed casino night over the past 12 months to raise vital funds, and have now chosen to continue supporting the hospice in 2020.

Director Nick Brown said: "We chose Bury Hospice as our designated charity for 2019 for various reasons including the fact that it is local, several members of our staff here have had friends and relatives at the hospice and the fact that we can clearly see where the money goes.

"We hope that our involvement with the hospice will encourage other like-minded business to help — the events are actually really good fun and we cannot think of a better charity to support."

The hospice has thanked the company for their generosity, and invited staff to visit them for a tour.

They will also be presenting Munro Greenhalgh with a hospice heart, which are given to individuals and businesses as a thank you for their support.

Rachel Wallace, Bury Hospice's head of communications and fundraising, said: "We are so grateful for the fundraising achieved by Munro Greenhalgh during 2019.

"The hospice is reliant upon such activities in order to continue working towards opening more beds and to reach out and support more families across Bury."

The hospice wants to open all 12 of its beds – currently only eight are in use – but chief executive Eloise Burke has said the funding needs to be in place before that happens.