SINGING stars and skydivers helped a charity golf day and dinner raise thousands of pounds for Little Havens Children’s Hospice.

Essex pop star Olly Murs led the entertainment at the benefit dinner organised by Choice discount stores.

And Olly left with a picture of Amy Winehouse, auctioned by her father Mitch. Just two days later, singer Amy was found dead.

The evening, at Stock Brook Manor, near Billericay, raised £72,300 for Little Havens to help fund care at its Thundersley base. Mitch Winehouse, a singer himself, was among performerrs who also included Alexander O’Neal and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Razy Gogonia.

Mitch had donated the personally signed photograph of Amy, promoting her famous Back to Black album, to the evening’s charity auction. Olly put in the top bid of £3,000.

Olly also made his own personal donation to the auction – tickets to see the X Factor live – which raised £6,000 thanks to supporter Ian Hope. Golfers began the fundraising day by teeing off in a charity tournament. The gala dinner and charity auction started with the arrival of the RAF Falcons, who skydived in from 10,000ft to the Stock Brook Manor grounds.

During the course of the evening, a game of stand-up-sit- down bingo was held. The winner was presented with a two-carat diamond bracelet worth £2,500, donated by Terry Hatton of Hatton’s Jewellers.

Choice director Philip Donovan said: “Everyone who attended expressed their delight at what proved to be an overwhelmingly successful evening.”

The hospice’s head of major revenue, Louise Gloyne, said: “The care Little Havens provides is free of charge for children throughout Essex who have a life-limiting condition.

“But it costs £2.4million every year to run and we rely heavily on kind donations.

“The support Choice has given Little Havens over the years has been incredible.”