Mask ball a resounding success

Lancing mums Kate Stew-ard, Leigh Menzies-Smith, Pauline Burns and Mandy Lankshear, together with Clare Bracey, organised a night to remember at the ball.

Around 200 guests enjoyed a three-course silver service dinner and danced the night away afterwards at the ball's disco, at the Charmandean Centre, Worthing.

Kate said the evening had been a great success: "It went absolutely brilliantly.

"Everyone made such a fantastic effort and turned up in such wonderful masks. It really was a superb effort. We were absolutely thrilled."

Pupils from North Lancing First and Middle Schools held a competition to design masks to promote the ball, as part of the fund-raising efforts.

Winners Amy Gravestock, Ashleigh Baker, Charlie Foster and George Dollner (pictured left) each received a teddy bear and had their masks on display at the charity ball.

Janet Parsons, publicity officer for Chestnut Tree House children's hospice in Poling, said: "We are so grateful to Kate, Leigh, Pauline, Mandy and Clare for the huge amount of work and planning they have put into organising the Masquerade Ball and for raising such a tremendous sum for Chestnut Tree House '“ money which will go directly towards providing care for our special children and their families."