A medical centre has been given a funding boost thanks to a Christmas raffle that saw three hampers offered as prizes.

The Crawley Observer reports how Heathfield General Stores in Poundhill encouraged customers to purchase tickets to be in with a chance of winning one of the luxury gift baskets.

Valued at £180, £120 and £80, the hampers helped the shop to raise £175 for St Catherine's Hospice.

Proprietors Tushar and Jyoti Patel handed a cheque over to the Malthouse Road medical facility following the festive season and explained how the raffle was so popular they were able to cover the cost of the three baskets and still have money to spare.

"I think the hospice is a deserving cause because it's a local charity. We're a local business ... and we wanted to give something back to the community," Tushar commented.

The news follows a recent report in the Malvern Gazette explaining how £2,105 was raised for charitable causes thanks to the raffling of Christmas hampers in Worcestershire.