AN outgoing council chairman has made a parting presentation of more than £24,000 to charity.

Councillor Jeff Gray, outgoing chairman of Easington District Council, began a fundraising campaign for Macmillan Cancer Relief when he took office, in May last year.

Since then, he has organised many sponsored activities and events, including a charity cricket match, coffee mornings, casual dress days, walks, a bike ride, a ball, and a Boxing Day dip. At a reception at the council offices, he handed over £24,454 - one of the largest amounts ever raised for the chairman's charity - to Wilma Burniston, of Macmillan Cancer Relief.

He said: "I would like to thank everyone who helped me raise such a large amount of money for this very worthwhile cause.

"It has been both a privilege and pleasure to represent Easington District Council in this, my last year as a councillor."