Heart radio’s week-long ‘Have a Heart’ fundraising appeal has raised £337,563 for Children’s Hospices UK, already 10 per cent up on last year’s campaign.

The amount raised so far this year has already surpassed 2010’s grand total of £307,600 for Starlight Children’s Foundation.

A fundraising extravaganza held last Friday, 4 March, was supported by celebrities, including boyband JLS, Matt Cardle, Stephen Merchant, Dame Helen Mirren, Olly Murs, Greg Wallace, Sophie Ellis-Bexter and Dermot O’Leary.

The station held an on-air fundraising auction with items such as a holiday to Antigua, which raised £6,000, and  a day at Thorpe Park with Olly Murs which went for £3,800. Money was also raised by radio listeners taking part in activities such as treks and bake sales.

Heart presenter Emma Bunton said: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to all our listeners and guests for being so generous and making the Have a Heart Appeal 2011 such a success.”

The money raised will be distributed to Children’s Hospices UK’s national partners who deliver services locally.