A charity winter ball has helped to raise almost £5,000 for the maternity appeal at Airedale Hospital.

The event, held at the Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley, on November 30 was attended by more than 150 people and included a charity auction and grand prize draw, which helped to raise over £4,750 for the appeal.

The aim of the event was to raise funds to help pay for new resources for the hospitals new midwifery-led unit’s bereavement suite.

Claire Mathews, head of midwifery at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said: “I would like to thank everyone who came to the winter ball, as well as those who donated prizes and/or their time to help create the event. “Sadly, around 4,000 babies are stillborn in the UK each year, so unfortunately, it is something we deal with more often than people may think. Having a separate area for parents to spend time with their baby afterwards is really important for families who go through this sad experience.”

The new midwifery-led unit at Airedale Hospital was opened in July by Lisa Gallagher, TV weather girl and Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives.

It was designed as a less clinical and more relaxing place to give birth and provides four birthing suites, all with private patio areas and en-suite wet room facilities, and a self-contained bereavement suite with a private remembrance garden attached.

To help fundraise for the Airedale Hospital Maternity Appeal go to justgiving.com/ AiredaleHospitalMaternityAppeal.