ORGANISERS of an annual charity shopping event attended by hundreds of bargain hunters have announced that last year’s event was the most successful ever.

The 2016 Durham Shopping Extravaganza, held in October, raised £25,071 for charity.

The total means the annual event has now raised more than £425,000 for charity over the last 28 years, with more than 90 good causes sharing the proceeds.

Nicky Swan, co-chair of the Durham Shopping Extravaganza, said: “We are blown away with the total raised and want to say a huge thank you to our shoppers for supporting the event.

“Having started 28 years ago, we are one of the original charity fairs and ten per cent of everything spent goes straight to our charities along with 100 per cent of our entrance money, raffle and tombola sales.

“It is so rewarding to see how the money is used by deserving charities on our doorstep.”

Major donations were made before Christmas to St Teresa’s Hospice, in Darlington, Weardale-based Tabitha’s Toys and If U Care Share Foundation, based in Chester-le-Street.

Now the remainder of the money has been distributed. Three rural lunch clubs have each received £2,000, while Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, Park View Community Centre in Chester-le-Street and Darlington Assistance for Refugees have also received £1,000 each.

St John Ambulance received £500 in recognition of its valuable presence during the two-day event at Ramside Hall Hotel.

This year’s Durham Shopping Extravaganza will take place on October 4 and 5, at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham and the team are appealing for new sponsors.

Anyone interested in getting involved should contact Nicky Swan at enquiries@durhamshoppingextravaganza.co.uk.