A BIG thank you was extended to Winsford residents last week after their festive generosity raised £150 for a local children's charity.

The money was collected in a wishing-well outside Santa's Grotto, in Winsford Shopping Centre, over the Christmas period.

And Tracy Bateman, promotions manager for the centre, presented Mrs Lois Molloy, chairman of the Winsford branch of the NSPCC, with a cheque last Wednesday, January 25.

Tracy said: "Each year we try to let a local charity benefit from the money put in the wishing-well at Santa's grotto.

"I spoke to many different branches of the NSPCC and was very impressed by the work they do, so I decided it was the right charity to receive the money this year.

"The donations came from children visiting Santa in the shopping centre that could afford to give money, so it seemed appropriate that a charity which helps children that are less fortunate should be given the money."

Lois Molloy was delighted with amount raised for the NSPCC and said: "It is just wonderful. We have to give a big thank you to Winsford Shopping Centre and the local people for being so charitable.

"We are continually fund-raising throughout the year, trying to create as much money as we can for local children.

"The number of children needing help increases every year and so donations of this nature are extremely important to the charity."

The next fund-raising event for the NSPCC will be a flagday collection, in Winsford town centre, in April.

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