Staff, clients and professional partners at a Norwich-based estate agents and chartered surveyors have beaten their charity fundraising target they set themselves for the past year.

Staff at Arnolds, on Prince of Wales Road in the city centre, voted to support Big C's challenge to local companies to raise �5,000.

The amount was raised by a variety of activities, including the Arnolds Sports Challenge, which saw teams from a dozen professional firms competing in a variety of events from canoe racing to a pub quiz.

Other activities included regular bake sales, a Christmas Hamper raffle, and five members of staff taking part in the Norwich Half Marathon.

Arnolds partner John Hadcroft said: 'Given that there are only 43 of us in the company, breaking the �5,000 target is testament to the hard work and dedication that the whole team has shown over the course of the year.

'We are also very grateful to the many clients and professional partners who dug deep to support all our efforts. It is very pleasing to be able to support such an important local charity.'

Arnolds are now starting their 2011 fund-raising activities for Norfolk-based children's bereavement support charity, Nelson's Journey.