A FUNDRAISING dinner in memory of Swindon schoolgirl Inderjeet Bharaj, who died of an asthma attack in February, looks to have raised thousands of pounds.

Saturday's dinner and auction at King Edward's Place in Wanborough attracted more than 200 people.

Although an exact total is not yet known, the money raised will be doubled by British Petroleum UK and donated to the Great Western Hospital's new respiratory unit in her memory.

Guests were treated to traditional English and Indian food, dancing displays and a magician.

Raffle prizes included a holiday in a Spanish villa, a balloon flight and clothes donated by local fashion shops.

Inderjeet, known as Indu, was days away from her 16th birthday when she suffered a freak asthma attack, collapsed and died in February just half a mile from her Mulcaster Avenue home.

Her mother Balbir Bharaj, 44, said: "The whole evening went very well indeed. People gave so generously and wanted to be there because of Indu.

"At the end of the day it just proved that Indu was close to so many people's hearts.

"I just want to thank from the bottom of my heart the many special friends who helped make the evening possible it was all worth it."

Around 700 people turned out to pay their respects at Indu's funeral in Swindon.

Traffic was stopped for the procession, which travelled from the family home in Grange Park to the Sikh Temple in Gorse Hill and on to Kingsdown Crematorium in Stratton St Margaret.

The National Asthma Campaign's helpline can be reached by calling 08457 010203.