THREE state-of-the-art incubators for premature babies have been bought for the Oxford Children’s Hospital after a carol concert raised more than £50,000.

The star-studded event at Dorchester Abbey featured readings from actors Edward Fox and Hannah Gordon, and former Oxfordshire Lord Lieutenant Hugo Brunner.

December’s concert was the second such event in aid of the hospital.

Another fundraiser at the abbey in 2006, which featured singer Jason Donovan, impressionist Rory Bremner, and radio presenters Ann Atkins and Sue Lawley, raised £55,000.

The three incubators will help hundreds of newborn babies who have had surgery and need extra care in the early stages of life.

The incubators will also be used to treat babies with neonatal jaundice.

Nigel Talbot Rice, chairman of the organising committee, said: “It is so rewarding to think that, even in these recessional times, we managed to raise more than £51,000.

“The committee greatly enjoyed their involvement, and no small part of the success of the evening was due to their hard work, but we must not forget the wonderful support given by our sponsors, Edward and Anne Bernard.

“The Choir of Westminster Abbey were outstanding and our celebrity readers — Edward Fox and Hannah Gordon, with our former Lord Lieutenant, Sir Hugo Brunner — were brilliant. We want to thank all those who gave their support to the evening.”

Mr Talbot Rice and David Langdon, who also serves on the committee, recently visited the hospital to see the kind of incubator their efforts will fund.

Children’s development officer at the hospital, Penny Hambridge said: “Our friends on the Dorchester concert committee and all the speakers have again shown their generosity and dedication and we are delighted that the event was such an overwhelming success.

“In these more difficult financial times, it is heartening to know that the community will still pull together to raise money for the Children’s Hospital.”

The new hospital opened on the John Radcliffe Hospital site in Headington in January 2007. Now, 65,000 patients a year are treated there.

The £30m hospital was built with the help of a £14m contribution from community fundraisers.

The Dorchester Abbey concerts are one of the biggest fundraising events for the hospital, together with the annual OX5 Run.

The run, at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, also raises up to £50,000 each year. This year’s is on April 19.

It has not yet been decided when the next fundraising concert will be held.