More than £80,000 was raised for charity at a lavish Burns Night celebration.

One of the UK’s top wholesalers Palmer and Harvey, based in Hove, hosted the Scottish Cèilidh at The Grand hotel in Brighton.

The annual black-tie event raised the huge sum for welfare charity GroceryAid.

It was attended by 230 of Palmer and Harvey’s suppliers and their guests including main sponsors Mars Chocolate, Mondelez, JTI, Nestlé UK, Britvic and Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd.

The vibrant celebration of eighteenth century poet Robert Burns is held near his birthday every year with a dinner of haggis and vegetables and a passionate reading of his work. This year there was a modern twist with a performance from The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who performed bag-piped covers of popular songs such as We Will Rock You.

GroceryAid helps more than 8,500 people either financially with grants and white goods or through a free confidential helpline and will spend more than £3.7 million on welfare support this year.

Martyn Ward, managing director at Palmer and Harvey said: “It is fantastic to know that our fundraising efforts with GroceryAid have been able to help former and current industry colleagues.

“I personally look forward to Burns Night every year and this year’s event has definitely been one to remember!”