Ipswich-based business lender Fleximize has raised £4,020 for the homeless with a stand-up comedy night.

The company, which provides flexible finance, drew in the likes of TV stars Bob Mills and Paul Tonkinson to perform for local business owners.

Funds will go to Ipswich Housing Action Group (IHAG) providing help to homeless people in the Ipswich area.

The fundraising total surpasses the highest amount ever raised for the charity at any single event held in the past.

Peter Tuvey, Fleximize co-founder said: “We are proud to be an Ipswich business and we will always remain committed to continuously improving to our town.

“Fleximize deals with small business owners on a day-to-day basis, and its events like this that allow us to give the people driving the town’s economy a night off, and help those that need it the most, to one day, have a night in.

“Helping to drive IHAG’s capability to support people in our town that need it the most is a great feeling for the entire Fleximize team and we hope this won’t be the last time. It’s been a privilege to work with IHAG to raise money for single, homeless people in Ipswich.”

Chief Executive of IHAG, Halford Hewitt, said: “The Fleximize team were fantastic, not only did they raise over £4,000 for IHAG and its homeless clients but the event gave IHAG a platform to raise awareness of homelessness in Ipswich and what IHAG is doing to reduce it.

“The money will be used to address two much needed issues: one, the lack of cooking equipment and bedding for homeless people when they enter or leave the hostel; two, the lack of access to the internet for job, benefits and housing applications.”

Three of the UK’s top comedians performed on the night, including former Big Breakfast host Paul Tonkinson, star of BBC Radio 4, talkSPORT and ESPN, Bob Mills and James Dowdeswell, well known for his role in Extras and regular appearances on Russell Howard’s Good News.