THE was a recent fundraising event at Whitney-on-Wye to raise money for Home-start Herefordshire which supports vulnerable families in Herefordshire.

Mark Pryde financial consultant from the Halifax took an active interest in the local charity and through meetings with Alison Jones marketing coordinator and Mandie Preece scheme manager wanted to support the charity in its fundraising events.

Each year on three days of the year the owners of the private toll (Maggie and Graham Taylor) over the River Wye at Whitney allow a fund raising activity on their grounds and allow the nominated charity to collect monies instead of the toll to go to the charity.

"Three years ago home-start Herefordshire applied for one of these days but were not successful at the time. We identified that we should try again for this year and having been successful in getting the bridge on June 7, I collected donations to Home-start Herefordshire between 10am and 4pm on that day. The home-start team and myself raised £295 during the day which the Halifax has kindly agreed to match it, totalling £590."