QUEEN of the kitchen Christine Corbett collected £1,000 for Christie Hospital by cooking up a treat for pensioners in a sheltered housing complex.

She decided to try to raise the cash after meeting Westhoughton Mayoress Annie Clare, who is a fellow helper at the Bolton Hospice shop.

The mayoress and her husband, Westhoughton Mayor Brian Clare, champion the hospital as one of their official good causes.

Christine, of Sanderling Close, Westhoughton, decided to give them a helping hand by cooking a fund-raising meal for 50 residents at Rylands Court, which is home to her 80-year-old mum, Ethel Parkinson.

The Mayor and Mayoress were among the guests and one of Christine's neighbours provided karaoke entertainment.

Christine said: "I've never cooked for so many people before but all the pensioners were delighted with their dinner, which included soup, home-made meat pie and fruit cocktail.

"We also had a tombola and a raffle and the pensioners had a coffee morning that raised an extra £60.

"Other people gave donations as well but I still can't believe that we raised so much money. It was a big surprise because I've not done anything like this before.

"I'd like to thank everyone for their support. It was such a success that I might try to organise another fund-raising bash in the future."