THE Original Factory Shop in Chard has raised more than £1,000 for charity.

Customers of the shop have helped to raise £335.99 for the League of Friends of Chard Hospital.

And the store has raised £850 by selling charity Christmas cards, and hosting a charity Christmas bingo night.

Store manager, Kate Morley, said: “We are really excited that we and our customers have helped raise £335.99 for the League of Friends of Chard Hospital, our chosen charity.

"What they do is invaluable for the local area and we’d like to think this effort will go some small way to supporting their work in the community.

"We have also been supporting them by being an outlet to sell their charity Christmas cards, another £450 has gone directly to the charity this way.

"And on top of all that, we hosted a Christmas bingo night and raised £400."

Kate presented the cheque to Nora Arnold, chairman of the League of Friends of Chard Hospital last week.

Nora wrote a note of thanks to the Original Factory Shop.

It read: “On behalf of the Chard League of Friends, I want to pass on our thanks for this generous gift.

"We have had a very lean two years, where money has gone out, but little coming in.

"We are grateful to the Original Factory Shop Chard for choosing us as their charity and therefore grateful to all their customers!

"We support the Minor injuries, physiotherapy and midwifery departments at the local hospital, donating equipment that the NHS does not or cannot provide, so thank you very much.”