FAMILY and friends of a 19-year-old girl who died of cancer two years ago have now handed more than £1,500 to the hospice which helped her.

Brave Emily Culligan, of Lynthorpe Road, Infirmary, Blackburn, lost her fight against a rare form of bone cancer in 2004 after doctors first thought she had beaten the condition.

The popular girl was mourned by hundreds of people who packed a church at her moving funeral, when she died after nine months of intensive chemotherapy and surgery, supported by the East Lancashire Hospice.

Today, her grandfather revealed that since her death, family, friends and regulars at the Manxman Hotel, Manxman Road, Blackburn, along with generous people across Blackburn, have handed over £1,630 to the East Lancashire Hospice to say thankyou for the facility's help and support.

The money was raised thanks to events including a fancy dress day, pub games, knock-outs and a raffle.

Dennis Hughes, Emily's grandfather, said today: "Everyone has been absolutely marvellous. We are probably going to carry on fundraising this year, we haven't decided what, but it will probably be quite similar."