REVELLERS who danced till dawn at the Sunflower Ball may have raised as much as £25,000 for our Hospice 2000 Appeal.

About 600 guests flocked to the Knavesmire Stand at York Racecourse for the glittering event with live bands, discos, food, casinos and prize competitions.

Special praise went to the special floral decorations by Andrew Grisewood and the "makeover" of the stand by interior designer Peter Plaskitt, whose aquatic theme even had a live figure of Neptune - alias York street entertainer Mr Yellow adopting the colour green for the evening - looking on as guests arrived for the reception. Karen Russell, finance and fundraising manager for St Leonard's Hospice, thanked both the designers for their transformation of the venue, adding: "I think these are the most fantastic flower arrangements I have ever seen." She said they were hoping to raise over £25,000 at the event, reminding all there that the night's fun had the very serious aim of helping the hospice reach its £2 million target to fund an extension to its site in Tadcaster Road. Karen also thanked the ball's main sponsors and all who had helped to make it such a success, particularly its organising committee. Clare Frisby of BBC's Look North, and Peter Plaskitt, took over the microphone with a lighthearted commentary on the evening's events, including a suggestion that Peter would soon be taking over from Harry Gration on Look North.

Clare will be presenting an edition of Look North's True Colours this week which will feature the preparations for the ball and the event itself.

PICTURE: SEA FRONT: Neptune gets some refreshment from interior designer Peter Plaskitt at the St Leonard's Hospice Millennium Sunflower Ball