The Lord Mayor has praised the generosity of people across the Bradford district after his appeal topped £100,000.

The fund was launched a year ago by Councillor Richard Wightman to raise money for children's cancer charity Candlelighters.

He watched his own grandson successfully fight leukaemia and wanted to help other families who were going through the harrowing experience.

The total stands at £106,000 and with money still rolling in from events it could top £110,000.

"It is a staggering amount of money, it is phenomenal but we have done it," said Councillor Wightman. "I want to thank everyone for working their socks off."

He paid tribute to his hard-working committee and said everyone had contributed something to make the appeal a success.

The fundraising was led by businesswoman Josie Pennington who aimed to come up with fresh, fun ideas to raise cash.

She helped to organise events including a masked ball, quiz night, antiques sale with Bargain Hunt star David Dickinson, and a golf competition at Bingley St Ives.

The community backed the fund and a bring and buy sale organised by residents of Scarborough Court housing complex in Cullingworth raised £530.

"I wanted to get into six figures but I didn't know if we could do it," said Mrs Pennington.

"This is a wonderful figure and there is still money to come in."

Candlelighters is run by parents of children treated for cancer and serious blood disorders at St James's Hospital in Leeds and takes patients from the Bradford district.

Sally Amos, secretary of Candle-lighters, said they were currently funding an extra doctor on the ward and trying to raise £40,000 for a piece of equipment used in brain tumour surgery.

"It is absolutely fantastic. I had no idea that it would be such a big amount and every single penny will make a huge difference," she said.

The Lord Mayor's appeal will come to a grand finale with Cocktails and Canapes at Cliffe Castle in Keighley tomorrow. The fund will remain open until August.