A family of fundraisers, inspired by the death of a loved one, have pitched in together to raise nearly £9,000 for St Nicholas Hospice.

Denise, Todd, Alex and Bethany Unsworth, who live in Croxton, near Thetford, have held a range of events and individual fundraisers to support the west Suffolk charity in memory of Denise's mother Mary Vogeler.

Mrs Vogeler died in 2015 after receiving end of life care and support from the hospice, based in Bury St Edmunds.

The family have handed over £2,146.23 to the charity, which brings their total to £8,762.30.

The latest event was their second black tie charity ball, held at Lynford Hall in May.

Mrs Unsworth said: 'As a family we have been raising money since my mum's death in 2015. For us it is our way of giving something back and repaying all of the care and support, not just that my mum received, but that we received as a family.

'The hospice's help meant that we could continue to be a family during the time mum was ill, I am a nurse, but the support we received meant I could be a daughter.

'The staff were brilliant, they really could not do enough for you. We are so grateful to those who have supported us. We can't thank everyone enough for the support.'

The Unsworth family were also supported by friend Michelle Banks, who was inspired to support the hospice following the death of a close friend.

Mrs Banks said: 'The atmosphere on the night was amazing, as was the support we had. It was buzzing.

'Working for L Fulcher Funeral Directors I was used to coming into the hospice, but when my friend became ill everything changed.

'I saw the hospice from a different perspective, having been friends with Denise I had heard from her about the brilliant care her mum received, but I got to see it first-hand. Nothing was ever too much trouble.'

The family have taken on a range of challenges to support the hospice, including taking part in the Bury Girls Night Out moonlight walk, a sky dive, walking the Great Wall of China, as well as taking part in the hospice's obstacle course Battle of the Knights challenge.

The family plan to carry on fundraising, with a third charity ball already in the works.