AN ANNUAL Beef and Beer Dinner has served-up a tasty £33,000 for Manorlands.

About 260 people attended the event at the Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley.

They enjoyed prime sirloin of beef donated by Dovecote Park, near Pontefract, and cask ales from Keighley brewery Timothy Taylor.

Guest speaker was former England international rugby union player, John Spencer.

A hugely successful auction was conducted by professional auctioneer Richard Waring.

And the event also featured a lucky-dip raffle and quiz.

Master of ceremonies for the evening was Nick Bannister, managing director of The Coniston Hotel at Coniston Cold.

The dinner was organised by the Manorlands Challenge Committee, which in its 11-year history has now raised more than £500,000 for the Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice.

Rachel Cunningham, head of fundraising at Manorlands, said: "We were once again delighted with the success of the dinner, which has now become an important date on our fundraising calendar.

"We are so very grateful to the Challenge Committee for all its generosity, energy and support."

The event further cemented the hospice's strong links with the business community.

Manorlands relaunched a business club earlier this year to develop the connections.

The £300 annual club membership fee helps maintain services at the hospice, which provides care to people with life-limiting illnesses living across Airedale, Craven and north and west Bradford.

Club members receive access to a special logo for use on their websites and in literature, discount group entry to some fundraising events, a membership certificate and invitations to Sue Ryder networking activities.

An honorary member is Steeton-based Acorn Stairlifts, which has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the hospice.

The firm, based at the Millennium Business Park, has also donated several stairlifts for use by patients.

"We are proud to show our support for Manorlands and encourage other businesses to do the same," said Acorn Stairlifts’ company secretary, Dave Belmont.

"The hospice provides an excellent service for families in the community. We take great pleasure in helping Manorlands and its patients."

Contact the Manorlands fundraising office on 01535 640430 for more details of the club and to sign-up.