Welwyn Garden City-based charity Isabel Hospice said it was “delighted” after receiving over £2k from the Welwyn Hatfield Conservatives.

The money was raised at the party’s Christmas Market at Hatfield House and takes the total amount donated over 40 years to around £150k.

The £2,467 cheque was officially presented by the borough’s MP Grant Shapps, who trumpeted the tradition of donating half of the proceeds, and lavished praise on the charity.

He said: “Isabel Hospice are such a fantastic local charity that do such important work in helping to support those who are seriously ill. I look forward to helping to raise even more over the years ahead.”

Isabel Hospice’s Beth Hardy said the charity was “delighted” to again be the beneficiary, and thanked Mr Shapps, the Tories and the local community for their support.

She added: “The funds raised from the event will go a long way to support patients and families in Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and across Eastern Hertfordshire.

“£2,000 could help us fund an incredible 76 hours of nursing so they really will have made a big difference locally.”

Isabel Hospice provides specialist end-of-life care, free of charge, to the people of mid and eastern Hertfordshire.