LITTLE Havens Children’s Hospice in Thundersley and brain tumour charity Anna’s Hope are each better off to the tune of £1,000 courtesy of an operatic gala lunch.

At the event, at the Dining Room restaurant in London Road, Leigh, guests tucked into Cantonese-style chicken and sea bass to the sound of music.

Blandine Pluck sang arias and excerpts from Tosca, Faust, Carmen, Nabucco, Forza del destino plus songs from the shows, accompanied by Lorna Stevens on the piano. Saxophonist Stephen Lucas played some lighter works such as Blue Moon and Fool on the Hill.

Baritone Bradley Whitedale, who has recently returned from two years singing professionally in New York, sang a medley of numbers from West End shows.

Restaurant owner Mehmit Haffan hosted the event and made a donation to the charities.