Supermarket staff have raised £3,000 for a hospital charity by holding a series of raffles and cake sales.

Tesco head office staff based in in Welwyn Garden City raised the money for the Magic of Play Appeal at Stevenage’s Lister Hospital.

The appeal, overseen by the East and North Herts NHS Trust which runs the hospital and backed by the Comet, aims to raise £250,000 by the end of the year to build a new playroom on the side of the children’s ward.

The current play area is outdated and it is hoped the new building will improve the lives of children who have to spend time on the ward.

Tesco’s Sunny Bhujun said: “We have been so pleased to help the Magic of Play Appeal and will continue to do so to help the charity get to their target of £250,000.

“The Lister cares for more than 3,000 Hertfordshire children every year and we are so pleased to be able to help provide better play facilities for them.”

Trust fundraiser Coral Murphy said: “We are so grateful to Tesco for their support.

“They have been fundraising for us since the appeal launched last year and have raised a huge £6,000 to date.

“They have provided toys for the children’s unit and items for a number of charity auctions and raffles in aid of the appeal.”