Shropshire Press Ball a big success

Organisers of this year's Shropshire Press ball today hailed the event a big success.

The ball, which traditionally attracted guests from across the country, was held in the county for many years but stopped when the local branch of the National Union of Journalists folded in the 1980s.

But union members from across Shropshire got together to reform the branch in 2004 and the ball was re-established in 2008.

The ball was held at Grays Hotel, in Forgegate, on Saturday.

This year money will be split between the Midlands Air Ambulance and NUJ Extra, which is a welfare fund for journalists and their dependants.

Organisers are still totting up the proceeds from ticket sales, a raffle and an auction but so far they say they have raised more than £1,000.

The night included a three-course meal, disco and live music from Shifnal-based band The Greens.

County businesses backed the event by providing prizes for the raffle including a shopping hamper from Shop in the Loop traders, train tickets to London from Wrexham & Shropshire and a magnum of claret from Shrewsbury wine merchants Tanners.

Outgoing Shropshire NUJ branch chairman David Burrows thanked supporters and said plans were already underway for next year.