A CHILDREN'S hospice is more than £1,000 better off thanks to a celebrating Darwen couple.

Harry and Sue Watson used their silver wedding anniversary and a party for Harry's 50th birthday to make money for Derian House, Chorley.

And the pair were amazed by the generosity of their family and friends after raising around £1,050.

Harry, 50, and Sue, 45, postponed their 25th anniversary celebrations from April 15 to coincide with Harry's milestone birthday so they could have the bumper party.

The couple, of Kestrel Drive, held a joint party for more than 200 at Marigolds function room, Darwen, on Saturday and asked for donations instead of presents for Derian House.

But they said they never imagined they would raise so much and were amazed at the popularity of their request.

Sue, a health visitor in Hyndburn, said: "We are still getting money coming in but we have about £1,050 so far which is great. We never thought we would get such a big amount. We didn't think we were so popular.

"We just put on the invitation 'After all these years we have got everything we need but if you wish to make a donation instead. . .' and we chose Derian House children's hospice.

"It only gets about five per cent of its funding from the government, not as much as adult hospices, so I thought it was a very worthy cause. There are so many things we could have thought of to donate the money to, but this was the one that stood out to us.

"We are hoping to pop up to the hospice after work when we are both free to hand over the money."

Harry, a maintenance fitter at St Regis, at Hollins paper mill, Darwen, said: "My wife is a health visitor and has dealt with a lot of poorly children through work.

"We don't particularly need anything and Derian House doesn't receive much money so we decided to ask for donations to them."

Trevor Briggs, general manager at Derian House, said: "It really is extremely generous of Mr and Mrs Watson to allow Derian House to benefit from their celebrations and this is a gift that will be put to very good use and is vital for us.

"We rely 99 per cent on voluntary fund-raising. We only get sufficient funding from the government to stay open six days a year so donations like this are really important."

The couple did not go empty handed at the party celebrations, however. Their children Daniel, 22, and Lisa, 20, presented them with a bottle of whisky and a bouquet of flowers.