A charity event that sees businesses battle it out to raise as much money as possible has smashed last year’s total.

The Jacobs Allen Accumulator Challenge, in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care, based in Bury St Edmunds, saw 60 firms raise £43,664.62 between them, beating last year’s total of £38,672.

The most cash - £6,101.97 - was raised by the team at Green Duck, an IT support and services company, who threw themselves into the challenge by arranging a charity golf day, plus events for staff, such as tuck shops and a raffle.

They even teamed up with fellow competitors Box-it East for an event which saw Green Duck co-founder Graham Duckworth spend his working day in a box.

On Wednesday evening representatives from each team celebrated their success by attending a grand final night at Boxted Hall, where they learnt of the cumulative total of their competitive efforts.

Kevin Clements, hospice director of fundraising and marketing, said: “Over the last six years the Accumulator Challenge has become such an important event, not only because it raises a lot of money, but because it brings the community together.

“If it wasn’t for people who fundraise for our hospice and events like the Accumulator Challenge there would not be a St Nicholas Hospice Care. We are so grateful for the support we receive which really makes a huge difference to the people we help and their loved ones.

“In its first six years the Accumulator Challenge has raised £235,000. That amount of money could pay for six specialist nurses for a year who would help hundreds of patients across west Suffolk and Thetford.”

The firms were given a crisp £50 note in June with three months to turn it into as much as possible for the charity.

Green Duck co-founder Graham Duckworth said: “It has been entertaining and we are proud to have been able to support such a worthy cause.”

Awards were also presented to Lucy Cronin and the 365Motivate team for best marketing their fundraising efforts and a community award was presented by Russell Cook, West Suffolk Mercury Series editor, to the Coffee House.

The 14th-century moated Boxted Hall was made available for the awards ceremony thanks to the owners Jennie and Toby Weller-Poley.