An artisan jeweller has raised £2,500 for Weston Hospicecare in a retirement sale after her family was touched by the charity’s work on three different occasions.

Sue-Jane, of Viva’s Bead Box, held a closing sale at her Congresbury studio at the end of March after 15 happy years creating eye-catching bead jewellery.

All Sue-Jane’s creations have always been one-off pieces, using interesting and colourful semi-precious stone beads, while her distinctive button brooches have delighted many appreciative customers too.

And Sue-Jane has pledged all the proceeds from her farewell sale to Weston Hospicecare in support of its work.

Her support for the charity comes after her daughter Clare was cared for at the hospice in 2007 before she died of motor neurone disease, and husband Andy was also supported in his cancer battle last year.

More recently, Sue-Jane has been visiting the day hospice in Uphill after receiving a cancer diagnosis of her own.

She said: “It began as a hobby after a friend introduced me to creating jewellery, but it took off. I loved discovering fantastic stones, and creating jewellery that was out of the ordinary, but not blingy.

“I would sell it during open studios, which were held about five times a year for things like Somerset Arts Week.

“I am really grateful to the loyal customers who realised it was likely to be the last time they could buy my stuff and did so, and to the new customers who did so because they knew it was for the hospice.

“I am very pro-hospice and am pleased to have had this the opportunity to help more people learn about the fantastic work that it does.”