HILTON Brighton Metropole has celebrated the success of its midsummer ball, A Night of Nashville, which raised £74,717 for charities.

The hotel hosted a cheque presentation event where performers were invited to celebrate and award the money to the local beneficiaries.

Sponsors included headline sponsor Skeritts, as well as E3 Production Group, Cardens Accountants, PSAV, Reveries, CJ Thorne Civil Engineers, Mortimer Clarke Solicitors and Cabot Credit Management,

The annual ball is organised by the hotel and DM Thomas Foundation for Young People to help young people in Sussex.

Action Medical Research, Chailey Heritage Foundation, Chestnut Tree House and The Starr Trust benefitted from the £74,717 raised.

Guests enjoyed A Night of Nashville, dancing and singing competition, organised by entertainment company E3, with eight local personalities taking part.

They were BBC Sussex’s Allison Ferns and businessman Steve Charman representing Action Medical Research, Karen Thorne and Stuart Dawes for Chailey Heritage Foundation, Fran Woolley and Gavin Graimes on behalf of Chestnut Tree House and Sharon Starr and James Harrington for The Starr Trust.

Allison Ferns and Steve Charman were crowned as the winners with their version of Shania Twain’s That Don’t Impress Me Much.

The eight performers raised more than £16,000 for the charities via their online giving pages.

Money was also raised on the night through a variety of fundraising initiatives, including a game of heads and tails for a trip to New York, a charity auction and a wish tree.

DM Thomas Foundation for Young People supports a multitude of charities every year to help young people who are disabled, vulnerable, or sick.

This is the 17th year the foundation has held a ball in partnership with the hotel to help the young people of Sussex.

Each year a local charity benefits from a foundation grant following the ball.

This year this was again extended to four local charities, who all worked on the ball committee to organise the event.

The money raised from the ball will be used to improve the lives, aspirations and care of disabled, sick and disadvantaged young people of Sussex through the work of the local charities.

Sascha Koehler, general manager of Hilton Brighton Metropole, said: “I would like to thank everyone who attended for their continued support for this fantastic charity event, one which we are very proud to host.”

Simon Sheehan, director of DM Thomas Foundation for Young People, said: “It was great to work with the team at Hilton Brighton Metropole whose continued support for the foundation and local young people ensured another superb midsummer ball.

“Along with the ball sponsors, performers and community, together we are providing important health and education opportunities for young people in Sussex to reach their full potential – thank you.”

Mr Koehler said the 2019 date for the midsummer ball will be June 22 with A Night at the Moulin Rouge.