THE Cheshire branch of a national charity has benefited from an open day at Chester’s Eaton Hall.

The Cheshire branch of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association was one of the charities to benefit from the Eaton Hall Gardens Charity Open Day last month.

Almost 3,000 people visited the grounds of the magnificent country home - the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster.

Visitors explored the rose garden, kitchen garden and wild flower garden.

They also enjoyed musical performances from the Chester Wind Band , a falconry display and Shetland pony carriage driving display, and took rides on the steam train around the estate.

Volunteers from the charity ran a cafe and children's games in the courtyard, sold refreshments from the Parrot House, manned the main gates and sold tickets for Katie the steam train.

Cheshire branch committee member Marion Chadwick, of Hoole, said: "This was the biggest event the Cheshire branch has ever been a part of.

"We are so grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Westminster for allowing the MNDA in Cheshire to benefit from such a wonderful event, which is so popular in the local community. We would also like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time to help at the event and ensured it was an enormous success.

“The cash raised on the day will be a great boost to our work supporting those affected by MND, and the event was also a fabulous way of raising awareness of this life-limiting condition.”

The Cheshire branch of the MND Association is the local arm of the national charity which supports those affected by the progressive, neurological disease.

Proceeds from the stalls and stands on the day totalled more than �5,000, which will be put together with a share of the gate admission fee. This will be confirmed following the final event in August .

The next Eaton Hall Gardens Charity Open Day is on Sunday, August 25.