A CHEQUE for £5,000, raised during a charity dinner with snooker star John Virgo, was presented to East Lancashire Hospice chairman Geoff Braithwaite during a meeting of East Lancashire's business bosses.

The cash was raised during the event held last month as part of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce's Candles of Light fund for the hospice.

The presentation was made yesterday at Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho, near Whalley, during the latest managing directors' networking meeting organised by the Chamber.

The meetings, which are held every other month, have generated more than £4 million-worth of business in the area this year.

Next year, the meetings will be opened up to other senior directors.