MORE than £26,000 has been handed over to help fund vital community services by the Co-op stores based in Bedale and Leeming Bar.

The money has been raised through Co-op members with one per cent of every £1 they spend going to local good causes. Team Leader Stuart King presented cheques for £8,295 to 1st Leeming Scout Group, £8,582 for Bedale Community Minibus and £9,157 to Bedale Community Library.

Andy Hallett, chair of the Community Library, said: “As a charity, Bedale Community Library is dependent upon its fund raising, grants and donations to keep its doors open. It costs over £18,000 a year to do this. This grant will help the library to continue its programme of improvements and increase community involvement.”

David Emison, chair of Bedale Community mini bus, added: "We are deeply grateful to the manager and staff of our local Cooperative stores for their generous support.

"This donation will enable us to continue what we believe is a growing service to the community.”