CHARITIES are to share more than £1,000 after a weekend art exhibition proved popular with visitors.

The 13th annual exhibition at Richmond Town Hall over the May Day bank holiday saw 22 paintings and several cards sold by local artists, with commission going to the organisers to be donated to charities.

The Friends of Richmond Friary Hospital will receive £262 from the raffle of a painting by Gordon Maughan, which he donated to the event, and £52 raised at a whist drive on the Saturday.

The town mayor's charities will share a further £700 from commission on sold items, proceeds from the auction of a painting by Ed Kluz, preview ticket sales, a draw and tombola, refreshment sales and donations.

Organisers set aside some of the proceeds for exhibition screens and a banner.

* The Friends have recently donated beds worth £8,000 to the community hospital.