A South Oxhey man has praised the generosity of his neighbours after a fundraising event raised almost £1,000 for a local charity.

Ricky Worland, 46, was inspired to organise the event at Oxhey Jets last Saturday (March 23) after receiving extensive cancer treatment over the past six years.

The event attracted roughly 140 people and raised between £900 and £1,000 for cancer care at Mount Vernon Hospital.

Among them was his wife Karen, 42, daughters Michelle, 23, and Hannah, 20, and sons Jake, six, and Daniel, four.

Mr Worland, of Oxhey Drive, said: "After all the stuff I have been through, coming in and out of hospital it all came to me this Christmas that I would like to give something back.

"For the last six years my wife Karen has stuck by me and it has definitely been a hard few years.

"I was really surprised by how many people turned up and I was well impressed with the amount we raised, it was a great evening and a very special event.

"I had family coming from Bristol, London and Bedfordshire as well as most of The Grapevine pub, there were people there who I had never met before.

"It was emotional for me and my wife, we cannot believe how many friends came out."

Dozens of individuals and businesses in South Oxhey donated raffle prizes including a £100 spa day voucher, a free car service and a signed Tottenham Hotspur shirt.

Mr Worland also thanked Oxhey Jets owner John Elliott for allowing them to use the venue for free and Gary Carter for providing the music.

He said: "I have known John Elliott for a long time and he said I can have the hall at Oxhey Jets for nothing.

"I went round all the local shops and 90 per cent gave me raffle prizes.

"This community really sticks together and all the prizes are voluntary gifts, it was all through people’s generosity."

Mr Worland of Oxhey Drive was diagnosed with skin cancer in December 2006, since then he has had three operations and a CyberKnife treatment.

The illness forced him to leave his job with Hertfordshire Highways two years ago after nine-and-a-half years.

He will start chemotherapy to treat his stomach cancer next month and says he is already planning a similar fundraising event for next year.

He added: "It was a wonderful night and I would like to do a similar event next year where I hope we can even raise a little bit more."