ESSEX law firm Birkett Long has raised �2,000 for Colchester’s hospitals through its support for Make A Will Month.

Patients and staff at Colchester General and Essex County hospitals were invited to take advantage of a will writing service, provided free of charge by Birkett Long’s expert solicitors during the four-week campaign.

In return, they were asked to make a donation to the Colchester Hospitals Charity (CoHoC). with a recommended sum of �75 for a single person’s will or �100 for a couple’s.

A total of �1,950 was donated via Birkett Long, with further donations made directly to CoHoC itself .

Birkett Long legal executive Caroline Dowding, who organised the activity on behalf of the firm’s wills team, said: “We were delighted to raise more than �2,000 during the month.

“We’ve previously supported a number of larger national charities through schemes such as Will Aid, but we were keen to support a local good cause during this campaign.

“CoHoC does amazing work for Colchester’s hospitals, providing equipment and environmental improvements which are above and beyond the scope of the NHS budget. The patients really feel the benefit of the charity’s efforts.”

CoHoC fundraising manager Caroline Bates said: “We are tremendously grateful. The money will go into our general purpose fund which can be spent on any number of improvements at the hospitals.

“For example, we are currently hoping to cheer up a children’s waiting area at the orthoptic clinic by providing toys and books. This would make a huge difference for the young patients who might have to be seen by a number of different specialists in one day.”

Funds raised by CoHoC benefit Colchester General Hospital and Essex County Hospital, and clinics at community hospitals in Clacton, Harwich and Halstead. There are 130 subdivisions of the charity which all benefit from the money raised, such as the breast unit and neo natal unit.

Birkett Long has a total of 22 partners, with offices in Colchester, Chelmsford and Basildon.