BRIGHTON'S business community responded in typical fashion to a charity’s call for help by raising an incredible £81,000 in just one evening.

Skerritts Chartered Financial Planners - which has offices in Hove, Worthing and London - organised and hosted a boxing night and auction at The Grand Brighton to raise funds for Action Medical Research.

And to spice up the evening, boss Richard Skerritt put on his boxing gloves and stepped up for the first fight of the evening in front of a 400-strong audience.

The 6ft 5ins wealth manager, who has been training hard for the match, took just 90 seconds to win his bout.

Boxing’s British middleweight champion - and world champion hopeful - Chris Eubank Junior was in the audience and helped boost the coffers by donating a pair of boxing gloves for the auction.

And Brighton’s very own big-hearted charity fundraiser Robbie Raggio jumped into the ring to host the charity auction and encourage the audience to “dig deep” for a great cause.

Alice Lisher, the charity’s community fundraiser for London and South East, said the evening had been a fantastic success.

She said: "The people of Brighton & Hove have raised an incredible amount. It will help fund vital research to develop new treatments and cures for sick babies and children."

The firm’s head office is in Coleridge Street, Hove and it is celebrating 25 years in business.