NORTHALLERTON'S fundraising "supergran" is bowing out in style.

Grace Wright mans her last charity stall at the town's annual carnival on Monday when she hopes for bumper takings to round off more than 20 years of helping good causes.

At 88, Mrs Wright thinks it is time she had a rest. "I have been supergran for more than 20 years," she said. "Monday will be sad for me, but at least afterwards I will be able to take things easy."

For her final stint, she appealed for donations and has collected hundreds of teddy bears for a massive tombola. Her home at Byland Avenue is crammed with binbags full of bears of all shapes and sizes, including a huge replica of Rupert the Bear.

"I have been begging for bears for some time now and people have been wonderful in their response," she said. "I can hardly get into bed for bears."

Over the years, Mrs Wright has raised more than £6,000 for various charities by setting up her carnival stall to sell soft toys she made herself.

"I have been out in all weathers," she said.

She hopes carnival-goers will make her last session really sensational to top the £600 she usually makes. She has compiled a board listing the amounts she has raised over the years and will display it at the carnival.

"This is so people can see just where the money has gone," she said.

Along with sales from home-made Christmas cards on a separate stall, this year's proceeds are for the children's ward at the Friarage Hospital.

Mrs Wright's fundraising started when her daughter worked for the Muscular Dystrophy charity. Her first effort raised £1,000 for this cause.

Most of her fundraising has been a solo effort. Her husband, Sydney, who is 94, is in a nursing home.

Mrs Wright has five boys and one girl, 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

It will be the first time for many years that she has not set about making soft toys after the carnival to be ready for the next one.

* See Royal date for carnival pair: page 22