THOUSANDS of pounds were raised for charity when 150 North Somerset business people came together for a glitzy annual ball.

North Somerset Enterprise Agency’s business club staged its 14th annual celebration at the Winter Gardens.

The event itself raised �3,500, and that sum was matched by Santander Business Banking – with half of the total now going to Weston Hospicecare, and the rest to be divided among local courses through the year.

The event saw awards handed to thriving new businesses in the area, including Clevedon’s Pure Comms, Banwell’s Thermal Roof Ltd and Weston’s Plum Communications and PR.

Santander’s Hayley Beaumont said: “This year’s grand charity ball has proved to be another amazing success and has given us the opportunity through the Sian Lloyd-Jones Business Awards to celebrate local business talent.

“Starting a business can be daunting but, as the saying goes, fortune favours the brave and it has been our pleasure to present awards to people who have shown courage and determination to make their businesses succeed.”