WEST Somerset residents came up trumps when they raised a staggering £15,378 at a Stand Up To Cancer fundraising night in Exford Memorial Hall.

Exford villager Jenny Winter, who has been fighting breast cancer and now lung cancer over the last year, enlisted the support of friend Leone Martin to stage a dinner and auction on Halloween night.

Jenny herself has already raised £7,500 for Cancer Research UK after successfully tackling Europe's longest zip wire, the one-mile long line at Zip World UK in Snowdonia in Wales.

Leone decided to do her bit by having her head shaved in support of Jenny's efforts during the Halloween event in Exford.

"My husband, who like most men, prefers his wife to have more hair above the neck than below, suggested I should run a marathon 'like normal people'.

"I am a fairly lazy person and told him this was much easier as I could do it sitting down!" said Leone

More than 120 people enjoyed a sit-down meal in the hall with food donated by local people, farmers and businesses, overseen by local caterer, Linda Pugsley.

During the meal, diners took part in a quiz and a raffle before the main event - an auction of pledges.

Conducted by auctioneer Andrew Varney, the auction alone raised more than £10,200.

"The success of the auction is all down to Jenny," said Leone.

"She spent hours on the phone and computer badgering, begging and cajoling friends and business connections to donate amazing experiences and gifts.

"The work put in by Jonny and Joan Atkins was also invaluable, phoning around and making sure everyone knew what was coming up for auction and getting them there with cheque books in hand,"

Everyone in the area rallied around and the selection of 78 auction pledges ranged from babysitting to an hour's ride in a helicopter for three over Dartmoor and Exmoor.

Leone said it was impossible to thank everyone who had made pledges, but said their generosity had made a massive contribution to the evening.

"The country sports fraternity was there in force, bidding very generously for days' shooting, stalking, fishing and hunting," she said.

The Exford community, inspired by the courage and positivity of Jenny, has now helped her and now Leone, raise a staggering £23,000 during 2014 for Cancer Research UK.

A spokesman for the charity thanked Jenny and her friends for their "amazing contribution".