THE Chester-le-Street Rotary Club raised £1,620 for good causes during the festive period.

Working in partnership with the Chester-le-Street District Council, members of the club collected Christmas trees from 150 properties. Donations for the collections ranged from £1 to £20, £850 collected so far.

Club secretary Fred Richards said: "The Christmas tree collection went fantastically, this year. Our thanks go to the council for putting it in the newsletter and to their wagon driver."

In the run-up to Christmas, the Rotary Club's Santa in the toy department of Chester-le-Street Co-op, and collections at Tesco, St Cuthbert's Mall, Digital Print and the town's Front Street, raised £770.

Club president Brian Corker said funds would go to the air ambulance and Chester-le-Street District Explorer Scouts.