A WEIGHT Watchers group has been gaining pounds as well as losing them in a bid to raise cash for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The groups at Richmond, Brompton-on-Swale and Catterick Garrison have raised around £2,100 through raffles and local fundraising events.

Group leader Beki Bulmer said: "We first started fundraising for the air ambulance in 2015 after a member had fallen and needed the air ambulance to get to hospital. As a group we lost 450lb in weight and raised that much in cash for the charity.

"Members really enjoyed the fundraising so we decided to carry on, holding coffee mornings, bake sales and weekly raffles."

Next year Ms Bulmer said the group intends to fundraising for the Holy Trinity Centre at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, which supports people with or recovering from cancer, because of another group member who has used the facility.

For information visit Richmond Area Weight Watchers on Facebook. Meetings are at the Town Hall, Richmond, on Tuesdays at 6pm; Principal Teachers Training Academy, Catterick, on Wednesdays at 6.30pm; Wackadayz, Brompton on Swale on Thursdays at 6.30pm; and The Station, Richmond on Saturdays at 9.30am.