A SHOPPING centre has handed over the last of the cash it has raised during a year of fundraising for a local suicide prevention charity.

The Prince Bishops shopping centre in Durham raised more than £8,500 for the If U Care Share Foundation, based in Great Lumley.

The final £2,380.50 has now been handed over – raised by visitors to the centre’s Santa’s grotto.

Charity founder Shirley Smith said: “As a local charity tackling an extremely difficult issue affecting our communities the support of Prince Bishop’s Shopping Centre has been invaluable.

“From cycling to rowing to abseiling and crazy golf the staff and shoppers at Prince Bishops have done an amazing job at raising much needed awareness and funds.

“We are overwhelmed by the amount raised by those who visited Santa’s grotto at the shopping centre over the course of November and December and can guarantee that the money raised will go right to the heart of our life saving, culture changing work.”

Georgina Thompson, shopping centre marketing manager, said: “This is the first time we have had an official charity of the year and working with the team at If U Care Share Foundation has been one of the most rewarding and educational things I have taken part of during my time at Prince Bishops Shopping Centre.”