Staff at Cargiant have raised more than £13,000 for the Birth Centre Appeal at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital.

The car dealership in White City has been supporting the Imperial College Healthcare Charity’s £500,000 appeal since last April, with staff taking part in various challenges, bake sales and a variety of instore fundraising events.

Managing director Tony Mendes said: “Our staff have been delighted to support such a worthy cause, especially as Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea is our local hospital.

"Being a part of something that will benefit the wider community is an important factor for us, and working alongside Imperial College Healthcare Charity has been a hugely positive experience.”

The charity, which raises money for the five hospitals of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, including Hammersmith Hospital and Charing Cross Hospital , launched the appeal a year ago as the birth centre had not had any major refurbishment since opening in 2001, and demand had increased from 700 to more than 900 births in just 12 months.

Josephine Watterson, fundraising and communications director at Imperial College Healthcare Charity , said: “It has been absolutely fantastic to have Cargiant’s support for our Birth Centre Appeal and we’re hugely grateful to the teams at the company who have put in a huge amount of effort to help us reach our fundraising target.

"Thanks to everyone’s support, we are helping to make the facilities at Queen Charlotte’s birth centre among the best in the country.”

The new centre is due to open in the spring and will include a new en suite room with birthing pool increasing the number of birthing rooms to six.

A new reception area has also been created, while the antenatal and postnatal area has been refurbished and en suite facilities have been added to the antenatal consultation room.

The next stage of the work will see resuscitation cabinets with a supply of air being installed into every birth room.

Double beds will also be added to rooms allowing parents the chance to spend those crucial first hours with their new baby in comfort.