AN Cockermouth man has raised funds for an epilepsy charity with a night of entertainment at Workington Railway Club.

Alan Harper, originally from Cockermouth and now living in Camerton, raised £1,550 for the Epilepsy Society from the charity night.

Mr Harper, 43, has had epilepsy since he was 15, and after getting his seizures under control he was ready to learn to drive a motorcycle.

Five days before his test, he was told his medication was unavailable and he had a reaction to the replacements, causing a seizure.

He said: “I decided to turn this negative situation into something positive for other people who live with this condition.”

Tickets were sold to a night of entertainment with performances from singer Barbarella, Alan’s daughter Katy Harper and comedian Dicky Dippinson. Prizes were donated by local businesses and signed portraits of Ben Stokes by John McNamee were auctioned off. Prizes for the raffle were donated by Opera bingo Al’s Kitchen, The Galloping Horse, The Yummy Pudding Co, Car Spa, Jennings Brewery, La Venue, The Gin House, McKays, Lawson’s Training Centre, Harrison’s Butchers, Caspian, Jewson’s, The Carnegie, Dobbies and The Royal George. As well as pubs; The Briery and The Castle Bar.

He also received prizes from friends: Mark and Sam Foster, Margaret and Roger Inman, Kath and Stephen Childecote, Joe Fagan and John Elliott.

Mr Harper also thanked Wendy Cottier from the Railway Club for hosting the event.