A GALA dinner with a Yorkshire and England cricket star has helped a York charity raise thousands of pounds.

York Against Cancer held its black tie event at the Merchant Adventurers Hall on Thursday night, and raised £6300 for the charity's minibus appeal.

General manager Julie Russell said the night had been a huge success, thanks to guest speakers Darren Gough, and former transplant surgeon Andrew Raftery.

The minibus appeal needs to raise £150,000 to help York Against Cancer replace its ageing vehicle and keep the bus on the road for five years, running its free transport service to hospital in Leeds for York people going through cancer treatment.

Julie said: "When people are diagnosed with cancer they have so many emotions that we think if we can sort out their transport to the hospital in Leeds for radiotherapy, that's one less thing for them to worry about."

York Against Cancer is one of this year's Lord Mayor's charities, and is already selling tickets for a fundraising Valentine's Ball to be held at York Racecourse in February.