LEOMINSTER songstress Emily Davies raised an impressive £1,300 for the hospital that cared for her when she fell ill with meningitis.

A sell-out gig at the Lion Ballroom last December has inspired Emily, who works at Doodies caf bar when she isn't writing music, to organise more fund-raising events in the county.

The billing attracted a younger than average crowd to the Ballroom, proving the niche for events of this calibre.

Having made the trip up to Nottingham ICU, Emily handed the cheque over to the head nurse who said she'd write and tell her exactly where the money is spent.

"It may pay for staff to go to a conference or perhaps contribute towards some specialist equipment," Emily said.

"A ventilator costs £20,000, so that's something to aim for."

For Emily it was an emotional journey to the city where she contracted the killer bug during her first term at university.

"It was good to go back because it made everything feel more meaningful," she said.

"The head nurse asked me if I wanted to go on to the ward to see some of the staff but I declined because I knew it'd be upsetting seeing people hooked up to the kind of machines I was on.

"I'd rather just feel so thankful that I'm OK and that I did make it through the whole thing."

The staff said it was good to see Emily in person, as living reality of somebody for whom they got is so right.