A fund for hospital nurses has received a cash boost as one of the last wishes of Mary-Ann Bloomfield was realised after her death.

Mary-Ann Bloomfield, former editor of the Mid Devon Gazette series, died in April, aged 57.

She had left the Gazette to become commercial editor for its parent Northcliffe company, Cornwall & Devon Media, in January.

Prior to moving to Devon in 1998 she had worked for a number of newspapers in the Midlands, including the Sutton Coldfield News, the Solihull News, the Birmingham Post and the Evesham Journal Series.

In her living will she requested donations be made to the nurses at Tiverton Hospital and her husband Ian presented cheques for £893 to matron Eileen Simmonds this week.

As well as donations from organisations and individuals, the total included money collected at Mary-Ann’s memorial service in May. The money will go into a special trust fund for ward nurses and community staff to spend as they wish.

Ian said: “They can put it towards a new television, or the Christmas bash. It’s to be used for whatever they might need as comforts.

”Mary-Ann’s mother was a nurse and wrote romantic novels about doctors and nurses. Mary-Ann has always been connected with nursing and wanted the money to go to nurses who are directly involved with patients.”

Mary-Ann’s memorial fund will be shared between 60 nursing staff.

Eileen Simmons added: “What makes this special is that it will go to the people rather than be spent on a piece of equipment.”

Eileen receives the money from Ian