A charity dinner to help children in war-torn countries has raised more than £6,500.

Around 100 people turned up at Pat Nile's home at Banchory on Saturday night for the launch of Hope and Homes for Children Aberdeenshire Support Group.

The international children's charity was founded eight years ago and the Aberdeenshire branch was formed a month ago to help raise funds for the cause.

Ms Nile, chairwoman for the group, said: "The dinner was absolutely fantastic. We raised £2,500 from ticket sales and £3,000 from an auction where we auctioned a round of golf and lunch at Skibo Castle, a round of golf and an overnight stay at Carnoustie, airline tickets, and all sorts of other things. It was brilliant."

Children from Banchory Academy also entertained the guests by singing the Hope for Hope song.

The charity is the brainchild of a former United Nations commander in Croatia, Colonel Mark Cook and his wife, Caroline.

During his time in the Balkans, Col Cook was shocked to discover a group of displaced children sheltering in the basement of a ruined orphanage in Sarajevo. He did what he could to help at the time but vowed to return when his service commitment was over.

He kept his word, but he and his wife realised that similar situations existed in many world troublespots and they set up Hope and Homes for Children.

They initially raised £1million to help fund the provision of shelter for children left without a home because of war or natural disasters.

The main aim of the charity is to reunite children with their families. But where that is not possible the charity tried to arrange foster homes for them until they can rejoin their parents.

And since it was formed eight years ago Hope and Homes has set up foster homes in 14 countries including Croatia, Bosnia, Romania, Ukraine and Sudan and has helped more than 2,000 orphans, aged from six months to 17 years.