GLAMOROUS guests dressed to the nines for a masquerade ball which raised more than £15,000 for charity.

A total of 200 people attended the glitzy event at the Five Lakes Resort, in Tolleshunt Knights, to raise vital funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.

Among the attendees was celebrity guest Thomas Skinner, of Apprentice and Celebrity Masterchef UK fame.

Organiser Vicky Hicks, 32, of Colchester, decided she wanted to do the charity ball back in 2019, but it was postponed from last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “My target had been to raise £10,000, so I was absolutely thrilled to see the total creep past £15,000.

“It was a brilliant night and everyone had such a lovely time.

“The generosity of small local businesses was amazing and meant we could keep costs down.

“In a way, having to postpone things last year made it extra special because this was the first time people had had the chance to get glammed up.”

About £5,000 was raised from corporate fundraising with the help of Vicky’s colleagues from BT.