A fundraising variety night to support Rachel Park's triplets will take place tonight.

Whitehaven Civic Hall will host the event, with proceeds going to Steven Park and his daughters Poppie, Mollie and Evelyn, following the death of wife and mother Rachel just after Christmas.

Organisers said the public's response has been overwhelming and they hope to make it an annual event.

"We put all 250 tickets on sale, which is our capacity, and they’d all gone by Tuesday night,” said Anne Kelly, whose family has been friends with the Park family for many years.

"It shows you how much this tragic event has touched everyone.

"We'll make it an annual fundraiser as those kids will need support all the way through their lives."

The fundraising campaign has achieved a worldwide response since it was launched following Mrs Park's death at her Bransty home on December 27.

It currently stands at over £30,000.

The triplets were born on March 11 last year at just 26 weeks and weighed a combined weight of two bags of sugar.

They spent 111 days in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary as their parents were "told to prepare for the worst".

After leaving Newcastle, the girls were admitted to the West Cumberland Hospital as they still had feeding issues.

But they made great strides and the family was allowed to spend its first Christmas together at home.

On the bill for the variety night are The Ex-Lepers, Avalon, Cath Marcangelo, Jeanette Wynne, Beth Clark, and the Morton Family, all compered by Julianne Kelly.

There may be some standing-room-only space available, says Mrs Kelly, and the civic hall’s reception will be open for donations and raffle ticket sales on the night.