A team of generous golfers have raised nearly £17,000 for a new support centre which assists people diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses.

For the past three years Halesworth Gold Club has organised a number of charity events to raise funds for Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund (HCNCF).

The money will go towards the running costs of the Pear Tree Centre – a new facility which will be built on the land next to Cutlers Hill Surgery.

In 2015 the club hosted three golf days which raised more than £12,500. The popular event, which sees teams of four battle it out for top prizes, will return on Friday, August 31.

In addition to this the club’s captains for the past two years have chosen to support HCNCF, with Ian Stannard and ladies captain Sally McCoy raising more than £1,800 during 2016.

And Andrew Jennings, the 2017 captain, and seniors captain Ken Parry-Brown added to that total with a donation of just over £3,000.

Ted Edwards, HCNCF trustee and co-chairman of the Pear Tree Centre project said: “On behalf of everyone involved with HCNCF, I’d like to thank Halesworth Golf Club for their unwavering support over the past three years.

“They have raised a fantastic total for our charity, which will make a real difference to people from across north east Suffolk and south Norfolk once the building is open.

“Our thanks in particular go to club manager Ben Townsend, 2016 captains Ian and Sally, the 2017 captains Andrew and Ken and all of the staff and members who have so generously thrown their support behind our charity.”

The Pear Tree Centre will bring a range of holistic services closer to home for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses, offering support, counselling and finance and benefits advice.

It will be open to people from across south Norfolk and north east Suffolk who live within a 15 mile radius of Halesworth.

Club manager Ben Townsend said: “We are really pleased that we have been able to support this important charity over the years, and would like to thank all of our members for helping us raise such a brilliant total which will make a real difference to local people.”

For more information or to make a donation visit www.halesworthhealth.org/information-and-support-centre