A YORK hotel has raised £30,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice.

The Best Western Monkbar Hotel has reached the milestone in three years, thanks to the efforts of staff, guests and boxfuls of cuddly bears.

Most of the money has been raised by the adoption of more than 6,000 cuddly “Marty” bears, which guests are encouraged to take home with them in exchange for a donation.

Other fundraising initiatives have included staff undertaking triathlons and road races, and holding events for its 20th anniversary celebrations to support the hospice at Boston Spa, near Tadcaster.

June Nelsey, hotel director, said: “I’m not sure we realised just how successful putting the cuddly bears on guests’ pillows would be. However, guests absolutely love them.”