SAINSBURY'S Amblecote has thanked generous customers for their Christmas donations which have helped the store to raise £2,545.58 for charities and organisations.

A mini craft fayre and tombola morning on December 11 raised £313.72 for the store’s charity partner The Paul Ackrill Fund; and a carol singing weekend on December 12 and 13 raised a total of £1,209.79 for six local charities and organisations.

Brierley Hill Primary School raised £96.15 in one hour for the store’s charity partner; 1st Norton Rainbows raised £301.02 for their group funds; Dudley NHS Charity raised £125 for the emergency department; Dudley Mind “Feel Good” Choir raised £245; St James C of E Primary School raised £381.92 for Acorns Childrens’ Hospice; and Withymoor Primary School raised £60.90 for Children in Need.

The store also invited groups to help customers pack their bags and raise vital funds, which to date has amounted to £1,022.07.

Stambermill Scouts raised £701.07 for group funds and The Mayor and Mayoress of Dudley, Councillor Steve Waltho and his wife Jayne, raised £321 when they stopped off at the store to help pack customers’ bags for their five chosen charities - The Hope Cente, The What? Centre, More Mascots Please, Leukaemia Appeal Fund Russells Hall, The West Midlands Lupus Group.

Andy Beardmore, store manager of Sainsbury’s Amblecote, said: “Christmas is for sharing and we’re extremely grateful to our customers and colleagues for being so generous during the festive period.”

Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Steve Waltho, added: “We’d like to thank everyone at Sainsbury’s Amblecote and their customers for being so generous.

“The money raised is really going to make a difference to my chosen charities at a very important time of year and we are really appreciative.”

The store has also thanked customers for their ongoing donations to The Black Country Food Bank and Wellcat Charity.