A carpet and flooring firm which picked the Garden House Hospice as its charity of the year has made a pile of cash for the cause.

Charles Wilson Carpets is a long-standing supporter of the Letchworth-based hospice, which provides care for patients and families across North Herts and Stevenage.

But over the last 12 months it has made an extra push.

A big chunk of the cash came from the sale of off-cuts and carpet samples which would otherwise have gone to landfill, with all the proceeds going directly to the hospice.

But most came from a promise to donate £10 from every order over £1,000 into the pot, which added nearly £1,900.

Charity donation boxes sent out to potential customers with samples of carpet, as well as the donation of a 30 square metre carpet, along with the labour to fit it, to the hospice’s Christmas raffle – which was won by a delighted hospice supporter from Royston – also supported the cause.

Manager Helen Wilson, the daughter-in-law of Charles Wilson who established the Hermitage Road-based Hitchin, business in 1972, said: “We chose to support the hospice as they do such great work.

“We have personally known a number of people that have received excellent care from the hospice.”

Through this series of fundraising initiatives, Helen and her team have raised a total of £2,686.

The firm plans to continue supporting the hospice – it carpeted the good causes chain of charity shops in Stevenage, Hitchin, Royston, Letchworth and Baldock – as well as nominating another charity of the year.

The hospice is marking its 25th anniversary with a string of celebratory initiatives, and its next big fundraiser is September’s Starlight Walk – find out more about the event and how to sign up at www.ghhospice.co.uk.