Glenda Mackenzie, head of fund-raising for the MS Society Scotland, said: "We are extremely grateful to the Rotary Club of Kirriemuir for making such a substantial donation.

"We are Scotland's largest voluntary organisation, dedicated to supporting everyone whose life has been affected by multiple sclerosis.

"With this money we can add it to our funds for research into the causes, cure and care.

"Although the causes of MS are still uncertain one thing that we do know is that Scotland has the highest prevalence of MS in the world.

"Researchers in this area are led to believe that the combination of genetic and environmental factors act to increase the persons susceptibility to developing MS."

One of the speakers at the dinner was Elizabeth Quigley, wife of local MSP John Swinney, who suffers from MS.

Elizabeth gave a very moving talk at the dinner and popped along to a recent meeting of the Rotary Club to help collect the cheque.

"It was a great pleasure to speak at the Rotary Club of Kirriemuir Thrums Charity Dinner about my personal experience of MS, said Elizabeth.

"It was a wonderful event and I am overwhelmed by the amount of money raised for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Scotland at the dinner and by the generosity of all those who attended.

"Every penny raised will be used to help people in Scotland coping with MS. It is the most common, disabling, neurological condition among young adults and 1 in 500 Scots is affected.

"The MS Society of Scotland provides invaluable help and advice and the money raised by all the generous people who attended the charity dinner will make such a difference to the lives of so many people."

John Ray, president of the Rotary Club of Kirriemuir said: "We are extremely grateful to all those people who attended and donated items for the dinner and the auction.

"The people of Kirriemuir and their friends are once again extremely generous in helping raise such a large sum.

"On behalf of the Rotary Club of Kirriemuir, and the society, I would like to publicly thank everyone who supported this great fund-raising event."