A spectacular, star-studded Big Top Ball raised more than £155,000 for an Oxford hospice.

The ball, which featured celebrities including Rob Brydon, Brian Conley and Jeremy Clarkson, was not only raising funds for Helen and Douglas House, in Magdalen Road, but also celebrating the charity's 25th anniversary.

And the money raised will cover the annual cost of five nurses providing respite and end of life care for children and young people with life-shortening conditions at the two hospices.

Sister Frances Dominica, who set up the hospice in 1982, when it was the first facility of its kind in the world, said: "It was fabulous, it really was fantastic.

"It took on an amazing momentum and from start to finish people really did enjoy themselves.

"The money we raised is just amazing. It's a source of such encouragement because it means we can plan ahead for the young people and the children and families who come to us.

"Without the generosity of people like that we would not be able to continue, so it's a huge boost."

She added: "It was one of our very, very best events in 25 years."

Helen and Douglas House chief executive Tom Hill said: "Thanks to the generous support of our three major sponsors, Honda, Audi and News International, Helen and Douglas House's fabulous event managers Kate Day and Lizzie Pickering were able to let their creative juices flow.

"The Big Top Ball was a truly unique experience which will be long-remem- bered by everyone who attended. It was the fund-raising event to top all fund-raising events and a fitting way to celebrate 25 years of children's hospice work."

Sister Frances gave celebrity guests including Trinny Woodall, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Pink Floyd's Nick Mason and Top Gear's Richard Hammond, a talk on what the hospice does.

She was joined by two mothers, Tina Bough and June Craig, who is from Grove, who spoke about their own experiences of caring for a child with a life-shortening condition and what the charity meant to their families.

As well as the more serious issue of raising money, attractions at the event at a farm in Henley on Saturday included a big top tent with a helter skelter built into the roof.

Magicians, birds of paradise, juggling stilt walkers, a carousel and the Honda Racing F1 Team simulator car all added to the enter- tainment.

TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who lives near Chipping Norton, acted as auctioneer for the event and presided over lots up for grabs including an Audi TT Coupé and a pair of actor Orlando Bloom's pants, which went for £500.