A PRUDHOE man used his 70th birthday party to raise nearly £700 for Cancer Research.

Stanley Nicholson decided that the best birthday present he could receive from his friends and family would be donations to a charity which meant a lot to him.

Along with his wife Dorothy, Stanley organised a celebratory bash at the Adam and Eve pub in Prudhoe, which he turned into a chartable fund-raising event.

“I asked the guests to save whatever they would have spent on a present, and instead donate it into the charity pot.” Stanley said.

“My life has been personally affected by cancer. I’ve lost both my sister and my sister-in-law to the disease, so along with raising money to help fund lifesaving research, I wanted to give something back in their memory.

“I felt that while presents are always a lovely and much appreciated thought, the money which is spent on them could be better used by going towards helping to save lives.”

Stanley also said he was “blown away” by the generosity of his friends, and the amount they had raised in one night.

“It was the best birthday I’ve ever had and the greatest present I’ve ever received. I had a cracking night with the people I loved, whilst helping to fight cancer.”