THOUSANDS of pounds were raised for good causes at the 22nd Swindon Charity Ball at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday.

About 150 people attended the annual event, organised by Swindon Rotary Club and the hotel, which featured food, entertainment and two auctions.

Haydn Beer, chairman of the organising committee, said: “It was superb. I had so many good comments, both on the night and afterwards.

“We have raised about £600,000 over the last 22 years and it is just really good to put something into the local community.

“It is Swindon charities we help and it is all to give something to our local people.”

The event in the hotel’s main ballroom, which took place from 6.30pm to 2am, started with a champagne reception.

The hotel’s chefs prepared a spectacular five-course gala dinner arranged to complement this year’s theme of Fire and Ice.

Entertainment was headed by electric string quartet Asteria who played a variety of classical favourites and instrumental versions of pop songs.

The Three Waiters, a singing group of two tenors and one soprano, also surprised the guests when they burst into song after serving the puddings.

The main auction, which featured 11 lots, raised just under £6,000 for charity.

Among the items were a guitar signed by pop stars which went for about £800, and a day’s experience with Swindon firefighters which was snapped up for £400.

Guests also raised about £3,500 in a separate auction of weekend breaks at Marriott Hotels.

Lots included a nine-day holiday to Egypt, and a seven-day holiday to Washington DC.

During the evening, guests also had an opportunity to win a piece of diamond jewellery donated by Deacon and Son in the Diamond Draw which was held at midnight.

The lucky winner was Valerie Williams, from Swindon.

Money from the event is still being counted but organisers expect to have raised tens of thousands of pounds.

The benefiting charities will be Swindon Samaritans, Swindon Bats – a group for visually impaired people who enjoy recreational activity, Twigs – Therapeutic Work In Gardening in Swindon, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Have a Heart, raising funds through Heart FM.