A TRIBUTE lunch for local celebrity Christopher Biggins raised a huge amount for Salisbury District Hospital’s Caring 4 Kids campaign.

The Variety Club Wessex Region held the lunch at the DeVere Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth, where guests were treated to a four-course meal and an afternoon of entertainment from Ed ‘Stewpot’ Stewart, Chris Jarvis, Mike Long and Joe Goodman.

Mr Biggins’ friends Esther Rantzen, Helen Worth and Michael Rose also attended the event and many messages were sent from other celebrity friends who were unable to make it due to filming.

The Variety Club has adopted the Stars Appeal Caring 4 Kids campaign and is fundraising specifically to fund the High Dependency Room within the new Children’s Unit. The tribute lunch raised more than £18,000 towards their £35,000 target and the next event will be a James Bond themed ball at the Highcliffe Marriot Hotel in Bournemouth on Saturday December 12. More details are available from the appeal office on 01722 429005 or visit www.starsappeal.org.