The appeal to raise 4m to build a new hospice in Oxford has been given an extra boost, writes Zahra Akkerhuys.

A total of 2,200 was raised by a group of singers who performed Handel's Messiah, at St Mary's Church, Kidlington.

The choir of 80 singers, from all over the county, got together for the first time on the day of the performance.

They were taking part in an international event, entitled BT Voices for Hospices.

Groups across the world performed Handel's great work within a time period of 24 hours to raise money for their own local hospice. People from as far afield as New Zealand and Canada took part in the event.

The singers paid to perform in the concert and local businesses also boosted the amount raised by sponsoring the event.

The group at St Mary's Church, conducted by Ian Blunsdon, decided to give the money they raised to the appeal to build Douglas House, which will be the UK's first hospice for young people aged between 16 and 40.

It will be built alongside Helen House in east Oxford.

Event organiser Kathryn Ellis said: "It was a marvellous event and we had a lot of lovely voices in the choir.

"The event is usually held in Kidlington every three years.

"It is a wonderful piece of music and many people who are not even terribly confident when singing always enjoy it because they are familiar with it."