A GALA dinner held at Gillingham FC's Priestfield Stadium has raised more than £15,000 in memory of the son of club chairman Paul Scally.

More than 200 guests turned out for the event for the Elliot Scally Trust, set up by Mr Scally to raise funds to help children with serious illnesses.

Mr Scally’s son Elliot died two years ago from heart complications aged 39 weeks.

The charity gala, which was organised in conjunction with Courage Publicans, raised £15,000 with a raffle and an auction.

The top lot of the evening sold for more than £3,000. The lucky bidder will watch Manchester United v Arsenal from the executive box at Old Trafford and get to mingle with the players at a champagne reception after the match.

Other top auction prizes included tickets to the British Grand Prix and tickets for an England cricket match at Lords.

Diners were surprised on the night when two guests stood up to make last minute donations and many of the raffle winners donated their prizes back so they could raise more cash in the auction.

A large chunk of the money raised will pay for diagnostic equipment and research, while the rest will go to Demelza House children’s hospice, where Elliot was cared for.

Fund manager Adam Kirby said: “The evening was a great success. Mr Scally was ecstatic.

“This is just the start of our fund-raising activities. The big event is set to come.”