CARAVAN park residents have raised a respectable sum of money for a hospital team dedicated to helping patients fighting severe illness.

The Grove Club, located on Sackett’s Grove Residential Park, in Jaywick Lane, Clacton, has generated £1,461 for the Colchester Critical Care Unit.

The funds were raised through the club’s It’s Only A Jam Grand Charity Raffle and presented in a form of a cheque to the unit’s matron Elsje Roussouw.

The raffle was organised in memory of popular Grove Club regular Steven McNeill who died aged 57 after catching Covid-19 and was cared for by the Critical Care Unit.

Graham Andrew, events coordinator, said: “We felt a collective joy at raising such a lot of money for such a wonderful cause, namely the Colchester Critical Care Unit.

“This surpassed the £440 we raised last year for The MacMillan Cancer Support Fund.

“The feeling and desire to give to such worthy causes as these highlight the sense of family we have built up over the nine years the regular, weekly jam has been going.

“Watch this space for next year's 10th Anniversary Super Raffle.”

Denise Grove, owner, of the Grove Club at Sackett's Grove Residential Park, has praised those who donated to the cause.

She said: “Thank you to all you lovely people for help in raising a fabulous £1,461.00 for the Critical Care Unit at Colchester Hospital.

“We handed over the cheque on Friday and it was gratefully received by the unit - you should all be proud.”