An evening of French cuisine and a pantomime performance raised more than £4,000 to help develop Thames Ditton Community Hospital.

More than 100 guests enjoyed the fundraising dinner, organised by the Friends of Thames Ditton Hospital, at the Vera Fletcher Hall, Embercourt Road, on January 11 followed by a performance of Buttons by the Charles Court Opera.

Following the success of last year’s fundraising, the friends purchased echocardiogram equipment costing £40,000, which enables heart patients in the area to be diagnosed and treated quicker and at a lower cost to the NHS.

Money raised this year will go towards buying more medical equipment to allow patients to get an extensive outpatient consultant service without having to visit Kingston, St George’s or Epsom hospitals.

Councillor Karen Randolph said the friends would continue to work for more outpatient services and for the provision of NHS intermediate care beds for local people requiring short term care, while working with GPs to extend services at the hospital.