A CHARITY trying to raise £850,000 to buy land and premises has had its appeal boosted by £7,000.

The latest cash for Northallerton-based Chopsticks has come from the local branch of Mencap.

It was raised from a sale of Christmas cards and gifts from the Mencap catalogue last year when Chopsticks, which provides employment for people with learning disabilities, became its chosen charity.

Chopsticks development officer Colin Walker said: "We are very grateful to Mencap. This is a great boost to our appeal, which we hope will inspire others to back our very worthwhile cause."

Every year, Northallerton and The Dales Mencap Society sells cards and gifts in its Christmas catalogue to help people with learning disabilities in Hambleton and Richmondshire.

Chopsticks, which provides work and training for 30 people with learning disabilities, was started in 1995 by a small group chopping firewood at Northallerton's Mencap centre.

The charity turns around at least five tonnes of scrap timber every week, which it chops, bags, bales and delivers to retailers. It needs to move to help more people with learning disabilities and to meet demand for its services