A total of £20,000 has been raised for charity in memory of six-year-old Harry Pickering, who died last year.

The cash has been donated to the Douglas House appeal, which is raising £4m to build a home for terminally ill young adults. The money was raised at Rock the Casbah, a Morrocan-themed event organised by three friends of Harry's parents, Lizzy and Hugo Pickering, of Lyneham, Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Harry Pickering who died last yearHarry died in the children's hospice Helen House, Oxford, in November last year. Aged 18 months, he had been diagnosed with the genetic disease spinal muscular atrophy, which confined him to a wheelchair. He was a regular visitor to Helen House, with his family, during his lifetime.

Following Harry's death, his parents' friends Alice Windsor-Lewi of Goring, Becky Simpson and Carrie McCulloch, both of Streatley, decided to raise funds for the Douglas House appeal in his memory.

More than 150 guests attended Rock the Casbah and money was raised through ticket sales, an auction and a casino. Guests were also entertained by belly-dancers and snake charmers.

Ms Windsor-Lewis, 36, said: "Harry was a gorgeous child and a real character.

"We wanted to hold the event in his memory because he was such a special person. Helen House is such a wonderful home and helps so many families.

"Without a doubt Douglas House will be the same when it opens."

Helen House spokesman Katherine Wilson said: "Harry was a lovely little boy.

"He was an extremely talented child with an exceptional gift for reading, poetry and painting.

"He touched the lives of everyone he met.

"The £20,000 which has been raised for the Douglas House appeal was a wonderful tribute to him."

Twenty bottles of champagne left over from Rock the Casbah have also been donated to the Douglas House appeal. They are expected to be opened during a turf-cutting ceremony when work starts on the new hospice next year.