MORE than £8,000 has been raised for the Kirkwood Hospice, thanks to the efforts of two village groups.

A group of friends from Meltham and a newly-formed hospice support group in Honley raised the money for the Dalton-based hospice.

The Meltham friends - Jean Clarke and husband Ken, Clive and Christine Booth and Joe and Liz Thackeray - organised a barbecue and raffle on some land owned by Mr and Mrs Booth. It raised £2,130.

Similar events have been held by the friends over the last five years.

Mrs Clarke said: "It just gets bigger and bigger. We've had a lot of help from family and friends."

The money was given to the hospice through its Meltham Support Group, of which Mrs Clarke is chairwoman.

The Honley support group - known as the Sunflower Group - raised £6,000 for the hospice by holding an open gardens event.

Members of the Sunflower Group, who are mostly residents from Honley's Greenway estate, opened their gardens for the public to view. Many also laid on refreshments and ran stalls and raffles.

One Honley boy who made an extra special effort was James Clare.

He helped direct cars and visitors to the event and was given a special certificate for his efforts.

Jenny Lockwood, of the Sunflower Group, said: "He was just amazing."

She added that the hard work of residents had made the event a success.

"They were all absolutely fantastic," she said.