Mirth is the medicine from Dr Phil Hammond at Wells charity dinner

Britain's funniest doctor had a packed house in stitches at a charity dinner in Wells.

Dr Phil Hammond was the star speaker at the event which raised almost £5,000 for Heads Up, the mental health charity based at South Horrington.

He is a part-time Somerset GP as well as Private Eye magazine's hard-hitting medical columnist and an acclaimed stand-up comedian.

Dr Phil told the 130 guests at the Swan Hotel in Wells with a smile that he "should be the government's next Health Secretary as I can't be worse than the last three".

But he halted the rapid-fire jokes to praise the charity: "What's wonderful about Heads Up is that it spreads compassion and builds relationships."

Master of ceremonies was Arnold Wills, chair of the Wells Dementia Action Alliance, and more than £1,500 was raised through an auction presided with gusto by Rupert Cox, chief executive of the Royal Bath and West Society.

On the day before speaking at the dinner on the Saturday, Dr Phil visited the Heads Up day centre. Staying for over an hour, he took the time to meet and chat with staff and clients to learn more about the charity's work. He was impressed by the services on offer, and described his visit as "truly inspiring."

Dr Phil can talk seriously or humorously, and usually both, about any health and lifestyle topic. He has been an NHS doctor for 31 years, a comedian for 29 years, a BBC broadcaster for 28 years and Private Eye's medical correspondent for 26 years.