MORE than 100 people helped raise £3,500 for charity in memory of a promising young chef who died suddenly.

Guests remembered Carl Abrams, 24, of Cheddon Road, Taunton, who ran the kitchen at Brazz at the time he lost his life in March.

His mother, Rebecca, organised an open evening at her hair salon, Bliss & Co, in Station Road, when two of his colleagues had their legs waxed to boost the fundraising appeal.

Proceeds from the event will be shared by the charities Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and mental health charity MIND.

Mrs Abrams said: "We were supported by local business donating generous raffle prizes. It was a very successful evening and we felt well supported.

"Carl would have been touched by the amount of people there."

Family and friends of Carl, who was born in Taunton and spent many years in Weston-super-Mare before returning to the county town to work at The Castle Hotel, were shocked when he took his own life.

An inquest into his death is due to be held in Taunton on Thursday, July 26.

Somerset County Gazette:

Somerset County Gazette:

Somerset County Gazette: