The organiser of a long established Swindon Christ-mas charity show is aiming to raise cash for the hospital which saved his granddaughter's life.

Music shop owner John Holmes wants to donate proceeds of the event, now in its 19th year, to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children to help pay for new equipment.

He explained that in Dec-ember his youngest granddaughter contracted chicken pox, which quickly developed into a life-threatening disease called Streptococcal Septicaemia, a form of blood poisoning.

"Chloe was taken to the intensive care unit in Bristol where she lay extremely ill for several weeks and did in fact die for four minutes," said Mr Holmes.

"Thankfully her medical team managed to bring her back. Chloe is now back home with her family, but unfortunately she has lost all her fingers.

"We spent several weeks at the intensive care unit in Bristol and during that time we witnessed just how skillful and dedicated the medical teams were.

"I have nothing but admiration for the miracles I saw happening in that unit. I also learned that they had to work with items of equipment that needed to be replaced and others that they were desperately short of."

This year's show, at the Blunsdon House Hotel, features singer Stuart Burnley, who imitates famous singers of stage and screen, mime artist Potts, dancers from the Celtic Academy of Irish Dancing and band Night Ride.

The master of ceremonies will be Sandy Martin from BBC Wiltshire Sound and Mayor and Mayoress Arthur and Doris Archer will be there. Other attractions include a raffle with more than 100 prizes on offer.

Tickets for the event, on December 3, cost £6. Contact John Holmes on Swindon 522352.