Thirsty tea drinkers have brewed up more than £2,000 for St Luke's Hospice.

The money was raised as part of the nationwide Tea at Three campaign, which saw hundreds of local residents meet up to hold charity tea parties.

Tea and cakes - Kelly Cartwright, seven, Georgie Best, seven and Billy Chappel, all from Lee Chapel School, enjoy tea to raise money for St Luke's Hospice in Basildon Picture: ROB BROWNE

Belly dancers and the Lee Chapel Primary School choir appeared at the hospice itself, in Nethermayne, Basildon, at a party was held for patients and their friends and relatives.

Local MPs Angela Smith and John Baron, along with Basildon Council chairman Geoff Buckenham, also dropped by for a cuppa.

St Luke's spokesman Marilyn Munt said: "We opened the hospice so that people could come and look round the gardens, speak to the gardeners and have a cup of tea."

While a party took place at the hospice, elsewhere more than 30 other churches, offices and householders also held their own events to raise money for the hospice's funds.

Published Tuesday, June 24, 2003

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