Two local businesses have been playing a part in helping the South's leading medical research charity, Hope, raise money to help fund vital medical research projects.

Chilworth Manor Hotel and Conference Centre held an open day and wedding exhibition at which £163.00 was raised towards Hope's campaign for research into developing an effective vaccine against the B strain of Meningitis.

At the NatWest bank Southampton a dress down day brought in another £166. Terry Osborn, trust director, said: ''We appreciate these efforts.''

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.