Guests dressed up in masks and eye-catching outfits over the weekend to attend a masquerade ball near Maldon and raise money for children in hospice care.

Over £15,000 was raised for East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) during the charity ball, which took place at the Five Lakes Resort in Tolleshunt Knights on Saturday night (9 October).

200 people attended and enjoyed highlights including an auction and raffle, in which the top prize was a holiday to Cape Verde.

Thomas Skinner, who starred in the 2019 series of The Apprentice, hosted.

Organiser Vicky Hicks was motivated to arrange the ball to help EACH after attending an open day at The Treehouse hospice, in Ipswich, in 2019.

The 32-year-old from Colchester said: "I'm a senior manager at BT.

"It's a very demanding job and I wanted to get involved in something that wasn't work-related, where I could give back in some way.

"So a couple of years ago I went along to an open day at The Treehouse, near where I work in Ipswich.

"I was so moved by what I saw and it was very humbling, which is why I was so motivated to try and do something to help.

"That's when this ball became my vision."

The ball was set to take place last year, only to be postponed because of Covid.

Vicky, who has two young daughters, said: "In a way, having to postpone things last year made it extra special because this was the first time people had had the chance to get glammed up and wear special clothes.

"Everyone was in very high spirits.

"Most of the people there were friends and family but I also put a message on social media and a group bought a table after spotting it on Facebook."

Vicky continued: "My target had been to raise £10,000 so I was absolutely thrilled to see the total creep past £15,000.

"It was a brilliant night and everyone had such a lovely time.

"The generosity of small local businesses was amazing and meant we could keep costs down. All our decor was provided by I Do We Do Weddings and Events, our live music was provided by local band KIO and WebPhotoUK was there all night taking professional photos for people to buy."

Around £5,000 was raised from corporate fundraising, with Vicky calling on the help of colleagues from BT.

Hundreds paid and signed up to take part in a ten-kilometre walk, while Vicky's "auction of promises" proved to be another successful way of raising funds.

She said: "Everyone was asked to offer something that could be donated and bought by someone else. For instance, I offered to make someone a lasagne."

EACH cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

To find out more and to donate, visit the EACH website here.