GENEROUS donations from Royal Ascot-goers helped one nearby church raise £9,000 by letting visitors use its car park and providing them refreshments.

All Saints Church in London Road opened its doors to guests attending the racecourse for the prestigious event between Tuesday, June 14, and Saturday, June 18, allowing them to park in its grounds for £20 and offering them complimentary tea, coffee and pastries on arrival in the mornings and afternoon sandwiches and refreshments.

All profits, which this year totalled a whopping £9,000, go directly to the church and 20 per cent go to local and international charities such as Mercy Ships, the world’s biggest non-governmental floating hospital and Cancer Research.

Church warden Pam Davey said: “We have been doing Ascot Christian hospitality since way back when some of the older members of our congregation, who are in their 80s, were young saplings!

“We don’t set out primarily to raise money but it is about charitable giving and we use all the money we make to provide for the church as a charity and others.

“We’re not money-grabbing, we charge what is in line with others and are cheaper than the racecourse and equally people are very generous and give donations in excess of what we ask for.

She added: “We have a website and people can book on there to reserve a space to park as well as picnic tables, as we have them and gazebos on the rectory lawn just behind the church.

“People can book for a cream tea after the races and we have prayer cards and pray for everyone people have asked for and the rector and the curate come to talk to people."

“Guests can also use the vestibule to change as a lot of them come in their normal clothes.”