EMPLOYEES donated more than £700 to the town's hospice through a charity auction.

Transport operator FirstGroup organised the event amongst its staff, which saw lots including an iPad and a Fitbit sports watch up for grabs.

Staffers paid £510 for the prizes and the firm donated an extra £200, bringing the total to £710.

The cash was then donated to Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Liebenrood Road, Tilehurst.

Clare Sturgess, community fundraiser at the hospice, said: "We would like to thank FirstGroup for their donation of £710. This money is vital to the services we provide here in the local community - we couldn't continue to provide incredible care without the support of companies like them.

"£500 could pay for a day of inpatient care, so FirstGroup’s fundraising efforts are very much appreciated.”

Jodi Toland, a call handler at FirstGroup, nominated the hospice for the donation after her grandma stayed there before she sadly passed away.

She added: "“I nominated Sue Ryder for the donation as they did an amazing job of looking after my mum and my nanna in their final few months. My family were able to stay over whenever we needed, we received breakfast, lunches and dinners, and they provided memorial services at no cost.

“I can’t thank them enough for making my mum comfortable when she was passing, and for allowing everyone to take as long as we needed to say goodbye. “