Keen slimmers were able to enjoy healthy food and raise money for a good cause at an event from which all proceeds went to the Excel Appeal.

Around 80 members of local Slimming World groups met at the Deer's Leap Pub in King's Lynn to dine on nutritious foods, with more than 50 raffle prizes up for grabs.

Mark Godfrey, a Slimming World consultant, said: 'There was a great buzz throughout the evening.'

The event was held to give group members the chance to enjoy a night out while eating healthy dishes such as pasta, rice, chicken in lettuce, swede mash, broccoli bake, and other tasty foods.

Members, who paid for the pub to make the food, also brought with them various prizes for the raffle, which raised £164 towards the Excel Appeal.

The appeal aims to raise £50,000 for specialist equipment, such as falls prevention kits, recliner chairs, and dementia software, which will all improve the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's care of the elderly.

Mr Godfrey said: 'We had a buffet so people could try lots of different types of food.

'The point was to eat food which you don't have to measure but it will fill you up.'

Slimming World groups in the region have pledged to fundraise for the appeal throughout 2016.

Mr Godfrey said: 'Some of the members are thinking about how they can raise lots of money for the appeal.

'There is a whole array of events that can be put on, but we're in the planning stage at the moment.'

Sponsorship and donation forms are available at www.qehkl.nhs.uk/fundraising

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/qehkl-excelappeal or you can pay by cheque made payable to 'Excel Appeal'. Send it to Laurence Morlaàs, fundraising executive, QEH, Gayton Road, King's Lynn PE30 4ET.

Are you fundraising for the appeal? Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk