A port users association has donated a significant sum to Ipswich Hospital's diabetes service.

Felixstowe Port Users Association (FPUA) gifted £5,000 to the diabetes service at Ipswich Hospital as a show of gratitude.

The funding was from the proceeds of its latest Christmas ball.

The Association decided to support Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity after committee member Ian Taylor's daughter, Matilda, was diagnosed with type one diabetes four years ago.

READ MORE: Royal Hospital School welcomes pupils for literary festival

After an initial hospital visit for appendicitis, Matilda's diabetes was discovered, and the family has since received "incredible" support from the facility's diabetes team.

Mr Taylor said: “The FPUA committee has been very generous in supporting me and the Ipswich diabetes team, and last year voted for it as sole charity for the Christmas ball.

“The number of diabetes patients is increasing all the time. We hope this donation will help the team to continue providing excellent help and support to those people and their families.”

Sandra Gosney, community fundraising manager with Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, said: “We are delighted with this extremely generous donation."