SAINSBURY’S stores at Amblecote and Merry Hill raised £1,342.24 respectively for The Paul Ackrill Fund and Alzheimer's West Midlands over the weekend of Friday July 31 to Sunday August 2.

Both charities were chosen by Sainsbury's customers at the start of July and will now receive a year's worth of support, through fundraising and awareness, from the stores.

Gill Ackrill and her volunteers from The Paul Ackrill Fund joined store colleagues at Amblecote for a two-day Teddy Tombola and a Disney themed collection day, which raised £812.24 for the charity.

The money, added to around £200 already raised for the charity, will finance grants of around £300 for three cancer hit teenagers to help with expenses during treatment.

Mrs Ackrill, trustee of The Paul Ackrill Fund which was set up in memory of her 24-year-old son Paul who lost his own battle with cancer, said: "Sainsbury's Local Charity of the Year scheme has made a real difference to many charities over the last few years and we're delighted to be selected.

“We're really looking forward to getting started and raising awareness of our cause, as well as raising vital funds to continue our work in the community."

Andy Beardmore, store manager at Sainsbury's Amblecote, added: "We're really looking forward to working with The Paul Ackrill Fund over the next year and the team have some great ideas for fundraising. “We hope our support will make a real difference to the charity and customers enjoy the variety of activities we are planning."

At Sainbury's Merry Hill, representatives from Alzheimer's West Midlands joined colleagues for a two-day bottle tombola, which raised £530 to support the work of the charity in the local community.