Charity begins at "Homes" for one local property developer which presented £10,000 to The Peace Hospice in Watford last week.

Barratt Homes North London staff in the Wellstones head office in Watford named the hospice as its preferred charity partner last year and has spent 12 months raising money for the cause.

Fundraising events ranged from "guess the baby" photography competitions, office cake sales, paid-for dress-down days and a huge raffle at Christmas.

But the biggest money-spinner was a range of auctions of the high spec designer furniture and homewares, including everything from three pieces suites and televisions, to cutlery in the kitchen drawers and towels in the bathrooms, used to dress the company’s showhomes.

Rachel Fowler, Corporate Development Manager at the Peace Hospice said: "On behalf of everyone at The Peace Hospice, a massive thank you goes to the team at Barratt North London for raising £10,008.38 through all those activities.

"To think, we held a meeting a year ago and came up with this ambitious figure, which has actually been met. It’s incredible really; it’s is an excellent result and contribution."

Karly Williams, Head of Sales at Barratt Homes North London, said: "The Watford Peace Hospice is such a well deserving charity, it was an honour to have them as our Charity of the Year.

"As a local housebuilder based in Watford itself, we understand the importance of being part of the community and were keen to have a local charity to support.

"The palliative care that the staff, nurses and volunteers at the hospice undertake every day brings comfort to so many lives and we are proud to hand over the funds we have working hard to raise over the last 12 months."

Barratt Homes North London will be supporting the Special Baby Care Unit at Watford General Hospital during the next 12 months.