Generous staff at a Southend clothing store today helped boost funds at the town's hospital with a bumper cheque for £3,500.

Workers at C&A in Victoria Plaza raised the money for Southend cardiac care unit after one of their colleagues was rushed there following a series of heart attacks.

Store manager, John Clark, said: "The staff raised the money in all sorts of ways, including bootsales, raffles, garden parties and by holding the odd barbeque or two.

"I am very proud of them. Even with the store due to close, they have still found the time to think of others."

The money was collected over the past year.

Check this - Jackie Mann from C&A presents the cheque to ward manager Sue Middleton

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.