A HOSPICE in North Yorkshire has launched a summer cash raffle in aid of patient care - with a top prize of £2,500.

The raffle, organised by Saint Catherine's Hospice, will be drawn on Thursday September 15. First prize will take home £2,500, while second prize will win £250. Five third place winners will also take home £50.

Richard Barwick, fundraising operations team leader, said: “Every ticket sold will help us raise much-needed funds to provide our specialist end-of-life services.

"It costs around five million pounds a year to run all of our services. With just a third of our funding available from the government, we need to raise around £8,000 a day, so every pound counts and is very much appreciated.”

The winner of the hospice's spring raffle, David Gray, of Scarborough, was thrilled to win the top prize of £2,500.

He said: "I have shared my winnings with my children and grandchildren and have made a donation back to the hospice. Saint Catherine’s is a charity that does much needed and wonderful work."

Tickets, priced at £1 each, or books of 20, are on sale now in all Saint Catherine’s charity shops and available to order online on the website.