THE Press' Afghanistan appeal has raced past its £17,000 target after a generous response from guests attending the newspaper's business awards ceremony.

The money is now in place to create a stained glass window at All Saints’ Church in Pavement, which will recognise the service of thousands of York men and women in Afghanistan over the past decade – including three servicemen who were killed in action.

A raffle at the recent Press Business Awards evening at York Racecourse raised £2,252 for the City of York Afghanistan Commemorative Appeal, taking the total in the fund to more than £18,500.

The raffle offered the prize of a half-day spa discovery experience for two, courtesy of Middlethorpe Hall.

Managing editor Steve Hughes said: "We had an absolutely fantastic response, and we're delighted this has taken us past the appeal target."

The stained glass window is being designed by one of Britain’s top stained glass artists, Helen Whitakker, creative director of Barley Studios in Dunnington, whose other works in recent times have included a window in the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

The window will give recognition to all the city’s sons and daughters who have answered the call of duty in Afghanistan, and will include a memorial to the three York servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice: Marine David Hart, Trooper Ashley David Smith and Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton.

Fundraising events organised since the appeal was launched in January 2011 include York’s Annual Community Carol Concert, a talent contest held at Fulfordgate WMC, a pop-up shop in the city centre, an assault course tackled by regulars at the Tiger Inn at Haxby and a sponsored 42-mile walk by Gavin Butler, a cousin of Marine Hart.

There have also been regular collections at Cornlands Road News in Acomb - where Trooper Ashley Smith used to be a regular customer - which most recently raised another £74.50.

A charity auction was also held by The Press earlier this year, giving people the chance to bid for once-in-a-lifetime treats that money could not normally buy, which raised £1,500.