An accountancy firm based in Hitchin has handed £360 to the town’s hostel for the homeless after scoring with a nice little racket.

Base52, which has its offices in Bancroft. raised the cash with a summer ‘badmintonathon’ in which staff took on all-comers in support of the North Herts Sanctuary in Nightingale Road.

Sanctuary trustee Peter Warren said: “A donation like this really helps.

“Our residents asked for a recreational area outside the hostel where they could sit and relax. Over the last six months we built a patio and furnished it with table and chairs. Volunteers also made use of their carpentry skills to fence it off.

“Now we need some form of protection from the worst of the weather like a gazebo. A robust construction will cost a few hundred pounds which the Base52 donation could provide.”

Base52 manager Delyth Richards said: “We had friends and family join us for a badmintonathon.”

Managing director Fred McBreen added: “We’re glad our donation is going to a great community cause.”

Find out more about the North Herts Sanctuary here

Visit the Base52 website