A HOSPICE has received more than £5,000 after a year of fundraising at a supermarket.

Staff at Sainsbury’s Bishop Auckland collected £5,203.18 in aid of Butterwick Hospice Care which was presented to the charity today.

Last year customers voted for the store to offer 12 months of support to the charity, which helps people with life limiting illnesses and their families.

A range of fundraising activities were held including tombolas, raffles, bag packs and an It’s a Knock Out community event.

A celebration on the store’s first anniversary in October 2011 raised £686.68 and bag packing and a band performing around Christmas raised £1,201.

Julie Nisbet, a hospice fundraiser, said: "We’re really grateful for the fantastic efforts of the colleagues and customers at Sainsbury’s Bishop Auckland.

"They have really helped to raise the profile of our charity in Bishop Auckland. "We’d like to thank every customer who’s helped contribute to this fantastic total."

The money will go towards patient services including day care, home care, counselling, complimentary therapies and support groups.

Store manager, Tom Phillipson, said: "From volunteering to the many fundraising activities that we’ve held, our customers have been driving force in making our fundraising efforts for Butterwick Hospice Care.

"The money we’ve raised is really going to help a local charity that’s close to many people’s hearts in Bishop Auckland."

The search for a new charity to support for the next 12 months is now underway, with customers asked to vote until May 23, but staff promise to continue supporting Butterwick Hospice Care.