Abbey National staff from the Teesdale site at Thornaby have boosted Redcar and Cleveland mayor Councillor Vilma Collins' civic fund.

Guisborough ward councillor Bill Clarke, an Abbey National administration officer, nominated the mayor's charity fund to benefit from the office's monthly casual day. Staff pay a minimum of £1 to dress as they please. The sum raised is matched by the company, saidd Coun Clarke.

Earlier this week he and Lorna Fagan, from the Abbey National's sports and social committee, handed over two cheques totalling more than £670 to Coun Collins in the mayor's parlour at Eston Town Hall.

The mayor's charities are the Redcar and Teesmouth lifeboats, the St John Ambulance and other local groups.