A CUMBRIAN mum has raised £500 for charity in memory of her close friend who passed away.

Claire Blaney, from Maryport, rented out her Peter Rabbit costume to schools and businesses across West Cumbria in the last two weeks to raise money for Hospice at Home West Cumbria. 

After purchasing the costume in 2020, Claire has volunteered her own time in recent years by visiting areas as the famous Cumbrian bunny, but this year decided to rent out the costume to raise money for a good cause.

The Workington-based charity was an obvious choice for Claire, after they provided her close friend Iris Harris with quality end of life care before she passed away last year.

Claire said: "I loved Iris to bits and Hospice at Home really helped to care for her while she was at home.

"I saw all the work that they do and thought that this was something that had to be done to help them."