A charity set up to help children and their families suffering serious illnesses has passed the £1 million mark.

Gravesend-based charity Friends of Shelby Newstead was set up by David and Sally Newstead, from Culverstone in Meopham, several years ago after their daughter, Shelby, fell ill.

She was diagnosed with the rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma in February 1996.

Shelby was admitted to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital at nine months old where a team of surgeons removed a large tumour from behind her heart.

Her treatment was successful and Shelby is now a healthy 27-year-old, full-time artist, whose work has won awards and been exhibited in The Turner Contemporary in Margate.

The first fundraiser was held at Brands Hatch Place in November 1996, and from there, the Friends of Shelby Newstead charity was born with many more events held in the following years.

The latest was held on Saturday, at The Clive Emson Conference Centre in Maidstone, where the charity welcomed 900 guests for an auction.

More than £65,000 was raised on the night, bringing the total number of donations to £1million.

The best-selling item was a painting by Shelby, titled "The Storm Will Pass". It sold for £15,000 with 10 limited edition prints selling for £700 a piece.

In 2016, Shelby was nominated for a Pride of Britain award.

The nomination was for her contributions to charity fundraising.