FRIENDS of Dorset County Hospital are licking their lips following the success of a charity cream tea initiative.

The organisation is set to receive more than £900 from the Dorchester branch of TSB Bank after staff raised money by selling cream tea boxes.

Businesses in Dorchester were encouraged to buy a box last month, which included two freshly made scones, jam, fresh strawberries, a pot of clotted cream and a tea bag.

The bank delivered each box to a customer’s place of work and had boxes available to collect from the branch itself.

Boxes were priced at £3 with all proceeds going towards the Friends of Dorset County Hospital.

Bakery Direct, Craig’s Dairy, Goulds, Waitrose and The Wessex Royale all contributed towards the boxes’ ingredients.

Maria Ellison, from TSB Bank in Dorchester, said she was particularly grateful to The Wessex Royale, who went above and beyond to provide fresh scones for each box.

She said: “We had an overwhelming response to our Wimbledon cream tea in a box fundraising campaign.

“We have exceeded our expectations and we would like thank everyone who contributed to the boxes and to all the people who bought one.

“They really loved it. They thought it was a brilliant idea and they said it was very nicely presented.

“We raised £910 for the Friends of Dorset County Hospital. This is such a good cause as what they manage to achieve effects the whole community.

“It was a fantastic week and everyone wants to know when we are doing it again.”

The Friends of Dorset County Hospital provides comfort and help to patients, their relatives and friends.

Sharon Merritt, a representative of Friends of Dorset County Hospital, said she was delighted by the response to the campaign.

She said: “We are absolutely delighted with the amount of money raised by TSB. This was their first fundraising event for us and organising an event like this takes a lot of time and hard work. It ran so smoothly and was a real credit to them they were amazing.

“The money raised will go towards a special project in the Kingfisher Children’s ward to support the development of Gully’s Place.

“Throughout Dorset there are around 400 children with a life limiting or life threatening condition. Gully’s Place will be a suite of 3 rooms used for children and families needing support."

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