MORE than £12,000 raised by customers of the Co-op in Bedale has been presented to three local causes.

Dales-Care day centre, Riding for the Disabled and the local primary school’s Friends support group were presented with the cheques by store manager Stephen Mould.

Nationally the company has raised millions of pounds with one per cent of money from sales of the groups own products going to the community fund, along with cash from the sale of plastic carrier bags.

Phil Braithwaite of Dales care who was presented with £4,362 said: “We are extremely grateful to the Co-op customers for raising such a large amount. This money will certainly help us to become financially viable to the point where we can reopen the doors to our clients in the near future.”

Riding for the Disabled was presented with £3,864 and plans to use the money to buy a new horse or pony, possibly along with equipment, which will also be used by the Richmond and Catterick group.

Karen Banks of the school Friends said: “The money will be used to provide resources needed to further the pupil’s education above and beyond the funding the school normally receives.”

The three charities for the next six months are Bedale Hall Trust, the community minibus and Aiskew Under-5s Pre-School.