Okehampton artist Alec Davey presented the Children’s Hospice South West with a cheque for £475 on Monday which he raised from his art exhibition.

At this week’s Men’s Probus Club, Mr Davey handed over the cheque to Angela Hammond from the charity who spoke to the men about the charity’s work.

’I was so pleased,’ said Mr Davey. ’I was expecting £300 not £475. Great support.’

Over a week’s long exhibition at the beginning of November, Mr Davey sold 65 of his paintings to raise money for the Children’s Hospice, which provides support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Angela Hammond said that the money Mr Davey had raised would go to continuing the support the families and children that use its services.

She said: ’It’ll go a long way to carry on that support for those short and precious lives.

’And we can’t thank fundraisers enough because without them we couldn’t do what we do. They are an integral part of our charity and the support that the communities give is just amazing.

’We are so grateful for everything that everybody does to support the hospice.’

Eddie and Jill Farwell established the Children’s Hospice 30 years ago after discovering that both their children had a life-limiting condition and were unable to access the right support in the south west.

The Hospice focuses on providing the necessary medical and emotional support in as friendly a way as possible.Ms Hammond said the idea was to replicate a homely environment.

Today the hospice owns three centres and works across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset including Bristol.s