A CANDLE service is being held this evening for patients and relatives at East London’s main hospice. The annual Light Up a Life’ event at St Joseph’s in Hackney begins at 7pm with a Christmas tree lit up with thousands of lights

A CANDLE service is being held this evening for patients and relatives at East London's main hospice.

The annual 'Light Up a Life' event at St Joseph's in Mare Street, Hackney, begins at 7pm with a Christmas tree lit up with thousands of lights, each one dedicated to a lost loved one.

Anyone can dedicate a light by contacting St Jopseph's for a dedication card.

Organisers expect up to 700 people to the annual event which last year raised �40,000 towards running hospice services which are given free to those who can benefit from them, meeting all the needs of patients including ethnic, cultural or religious heritage whatever faith.

It costs �12 million every year to run St Joseph's, but only half comes from the NHS. It still needs to raise �6m.