Hundreds of special stars made City Hall’s Christmas tree dazzle as people remembered absent loved ones or said ‘thank you’ to those who had made a difference during the year.

A record number of Christmas Stars were hung from the tree at two ceremonies tonight for this year’s Christmas Star Appeal.

Thousands of pounds was raised for the Lord Mayor of Bradford’s chosen charities as more than 302 stars were nominated.

June Lofts, 72, of Allerton, said she had taken part in the annual Telegraph & Argus appeal since it started in 2004.

She was at last night’s event with her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandson, so they could all put a star for her mother Clare Stansfield on the tree.

She said: “We like doing it for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and also because it seems to bring us closer as a family – and we do miss her.

“It isn’t a sad time, it’s kind of celebrating their lives as well – that’s what we feel anyway.”

Mrs Lofts said her son in Canada will also receive a star after sending in the money from across the Atlantic.

Maureen Clay, 64, of Thackley, was at the ceremony with her husband and their two-year-old grandson Ned Walker.

She said they were attending the event to hang a star for Ned’s brother Freddie who died nearly three years ago after he was born prematurely.

She said: “We have come every year for the past three years, it’s got a right lovely feeling to it, it’s lovely to put his little name on the tree.”

The Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor John Godward, said: “I never expected there to be so many and neither did everyone else actually. We have been overwhelmed by the support on this and that is all to the good.”

* The 302 people nominated in this year's Christmas Star Appeal are as follows: A dear niece; Alan Butler; Alan Horne; Alice Baldwin; All children with Cancer; All that I have lost at Christmas; Allan Mares; Alma Wood; Alyn J Wheelhouse (x2); Andrew Garner; Andrew Haley (x3); Annie Elizabeth Atkinson; Arnold Lessen; Arthur Bennett (x2); Arthur Mortimer; Audrey Dyche; Audrey Eggnog; Auntie Katie. Baby McKenzie; Barrie Chapman; Barry Illingworth - Father; Barry Illingworth - Husband; Basil Ingleby; Bert Johnston; Betty and Patrick Herron; Betty Dunn Bill Smith; Brian; Brian Ford; Brian James Pope; Bryan Stanley Ingo. C/pl Ian Metcalfe; Caitlin Virgo; Carol Danes; Caroline Dillon (nurse); Catherine Kennedy; Christine Metcalfe; Christopher Buck; Christopher Holgate (x4); Clara Campy; Clara Campy - Mother; Clare Stansfield (x6); Cliff Kirkby; Colin Chapman; Colin Pemberton. Daniel Wilson Le Provost; David Taylor; David Webster; Dawn Smith (formerly Martin); Debbie Hamilton; Denis Sharp; Derek Pickles; Derek Thompson (x2); Derrick Southall; Diane Marie McDermott (nee Pickford) (x2); Donald and Renee Cameron; Donald Cameron (x2); Donald Schofield (x3); Dorothy Myers; Doreen; Doreen Brown; Doreen Notch; Dorothy Connell; Dorothy M Connell; Dorothy Mitchell (x2); Dorothy Perkins Connell. Edward Broadbent; Edwin (Eddie) Hughes (Deceased); Elaine Bates (nee Heath); Elise Funnel; Elsie Ingleby; Emily Bingham; Emma Pell; Eric Smith (x2); Ernest and Jean Sibson; Ernest Seville; Ernie Waddington; Eunice Gee; Evelyn and Jack Waterhouse. Frances Melaugh; Francis Kevin Dunne; Frank Anthony Holmes; Frank McGrath (x3); Fred and Margaret Gardener (x2); Fred Toft MBE (x2); Freda Spencer; Freddie Patrick Walker (x2); Frederick and Joan Fox. Gareth Mark Hammond; Gamma King; Geoff Slingsby; Geoffrey Shepherd; George Card; Gerald Buck; Gerald Cullen; Glenn David Thorpe; Graham Gordon (x2); Granddad Cameron; Grandma Madge. Harold Glow; Harry and Elsie Metcalfe; Harry Broadbent; Harry Ingleby; Harry Lofthouse; Helen Dennison; Helen Mary Bowman (x2); Hilda Greenwood; Hilda Lawn; Horace. Jack Broadly; Jack Farrell; Jack Fortune (x5); Jack Groves; James Gordon McGhee; Jean; Jean Clough (x4); Jessie Ingleby; Jim Lee; Jim Longbottom; Joan and Harold Blackburn; Joan Docket (x3); John Craig Moorhouse; John Henry Hale; John Stansfield; John Stevens; John Vernon Walker; John, Jackie, Pamela and Tina Basic; Judith Robinson (x2); Julia Delaney; June and Bert Wilson. Karin Yvonne Smith; Kathleen Shackleton; Kathleen Wade; Kathleen Waters; Katie Wilkinson; Keith Hallsworth; Keith Lamb and Sean Durkin; Keith Sorbets; Keith Wade (x3); Ken Fish; Kenneth Gill (x3). Leah Kellett; Lee Firth (x2); Lewis Danes; Lily Angel Smith; Linda Fernley; Loving wife Pat. Margaret; Marion Dixon; Mary Broadbent; Mary Brown and Hazel Potter; Mathew David Briar; May Ruth; Michael Anthony Fielded; Michael John Tennant; Michael Palmer; Michael Tennant (x2); Michael Waddington; Mildred Illingworth; Miss Shirley Hodgson; Moira Lorded; Molly Corolla (x2); Morris Murray (x3); Mr Clive Brook; Mr David Pickard; Mr Eric Slingsby; Mr Harry Pickard; Mr Roger Benson; Mr Ron Carter; Mr Tom Barstow and Mrs Nellie Barstow; Mrs Clare Stanfield (x4); Mrs Millicent Pickard; Mrs Vera Sidney and Mrs Carrie Gill; My best friend Dot; My husband Ernest. Nana Dot; Nancy Gates; Nancy Nutter; Neil Anthony Fox; Nick Sheared; No name; Norman Haley (x3). Olive and Tony Mitchell; Oliver Christian McNally. Pamela Chapman; Pamela Mitchell; Pat L Stones; Pat Southall; Patricia Hawker; Paul Irons; Paul Smith; Pauline Coburn; Percy Gee; Peter Ernest Conquest; Peter Salon (x2); Philip Shackleton. Ralph Taylor; Reece; Reece Randall; Reggie Notch; Renee Cameron; Rona Lessen. Sally Ljubojevic; Sarah Mann; Sarah Phillips; Sharon Nawaz; Shaun Durkin; Sheila Simon; (Sid) Tordoff; Stanley Allott; Stanley Cahill; Stanley Hinds; Stanley Vincent Cousins; Stephen Andrew Clarke; Stephen David Newsholme; Sue Greenwood; Summer (x2); Summer Hudson; Susan Carroll; Susan Thompson; Sydney Birkby; Sylvia May Wood. Terry Simeon Walker (x2); The Bower Family; Thomas Heaton; Thomas Nixon; Thomas Sharp; Tina Louise Wormald; Tina May Dean (x3); To Dad (Donald Schofield); Toni Marie Zaccardelli (x2); Tony “babe” norman; Tracey White. Veronica Knaggs. Wilf Abbott; Wilfred Dunn; Wilfred E Ruth; William G Smith (x4); Willie and Rose Boulton; Winston Ingleby.