A daring dozen teams who did battle in a fun It’s A Knockout concert packed a real punch, raising more than £10,000 for the Lister Hospital’s Forget-Me-Not appeal.

The Fairlands Valley event pitted squads representing businesses as diverse as Great Ashby supermarket Budgens and Hitchin-based insurance giants LV=, care home operator Quantum Care, Hitchin building firm Ashe Construction, Stevenage heating equipment experts Elecro Engineering against each other, and teams made up of hospital staff and Stevenage firefighters.

Deputy nursing services manager Madonna Sealey, who captained the Lister team, said: “It was a brilliant event, we did not stop laughing all day.

“More importantly it has raised more than £10,000 towards our £275,000 target to help improve the environment of our elderly wards for our dementia patients.”

Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland, who presented the top prize to Hertford-based staff supply group MPI, said: “The teams were very happy, but certainly exhausted and only three points separated the top three teams.

“Their commitment was incredible and their generosity amazing. I am proud of everyone who took part and look forward to joining in next year.”

The East & North Herts Hospitals Charity’s next event is a fire walk which will take place at the Corey’s Mill Lane hospital on Thursday, November 26. If you would like to take part, contact Zoe Doherty (01438 286 142 or zoe.doherty@nhs.net) to find out more.