KIND-hearted staff at a Reading store have donated £5,000 to cancer hospice Duchess of Kent House.

Almost all 400 workers at Marks & Spencer in Broad Street raised around £2,500 for the hospice's specialist palliative care centre with fortnightly raffles, a spot the ball competition and fun day.

Marks & Spencer doubled the money.

Staff also supported runners competing in Reading's half-marathon and the New York Marathon for the charity.

The cheque was handed over on Saturday, March 23.

Duchess of Kent House Trust fundraising manager George Solly said: "We rely on support like this to keep our services running."

He said staff at Marks & Spencer had pledged their support to the charity again this year. It costs around £200,000 a year to keep the day centre open. Business advising firm KPMG yesterday handed over a £1,000 cheque to the trust.