INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day was celebrated in style with a glitzy charity lunch and afternoon of entertainment in aid of St David’s Hospice Care.

Leading Wales broadcaster Sian Lloyd got the proceedings under way for the Newport-based charity at the sold out inaugural Ladies Day event at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens.

The BBC journalist, presenter and broadcaster introduced the various speakers, thanked the sponsors and praised the organisers for staging a wonderful event in aid of such a great charity.

Franca Nigro, of St David’s Hospice Care, who pulled together all the parts to stage the lavish event, said: “We were thrilled that our first ever event really caught everyone’s imagination and sold out. It was especially wonderful that Sian Lloyd could attend and host the inaugural ladies day on such an important day - International Women’s Day. Sian is such an incredibly inspirational woman of Wales.”

Guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal, took part in a wonderful fund raising raffle and were entertained by X Factor’s James Williams. They also heard from the World’s oldest skydiver, Cardiff’s Dilys Price, OBE, from speaker of the year Jane Manuel and Charlotte Leyshon, director of Lux Family Law, who spoke about female entrepreneurs and motherhood.

Beauty and laser practitioners Daniela and India Evans of Beauty Advance Skin and Laser Clinic, 6-8 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff and Glenside Commercials were sponsors of the event.

St David’s Hospice Care say that they are so pleased with the response to their first Ladies Day event that they are now making preliminary preparations for staging another International Women's Day event next year.