AS one of her last duties as Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Dorothy Long presented three local charities with a total of £10,500.

St Teresa's Hospice, Corporation Road Nursery School's toy library and Darlington Community Services each received a cheque for £3,500 from the Mayor's Charity Fund.

The majority of the money for the charity fund is raised by the Mayor's Charity Shop in Duke Street, Darlington, augmented by proceeds from the Mayor's Ball.

In addition to the mayor's chosen charities, a committee meets regularly during the year to give small donations.

Jane Bradshaw, director of St Teresa's Hospice, said: "I'm sure I can speak for each of the charities concerned and say thank you to the mayor for her personal interest in the work we do.

"It is wonderful that the Mayor's Charity Fund is funded and run by local people for local people, and we are delighted to accept these donations on behalf of the people we serve."