A FORMER Ross mayor has given a youth charity a welcome £5,500 boost.

Cllr Chris Bartrum was the Mayor of Ross for a year until May last year and nominated The Basement Youth Trust (BYT) as his charity for the year.

It is a Ross-based charity which provides free activities for teenagers.

Cllr Bartrum did a 90-mile cycle around Herefordshire's market towns as part of his fundraising drive and with huge input from his mayoress Jane Roberts he was able to give a cheque of £5,507.40 to BYT, which has since gone up to almost £6,000.

Chairman of trustees Keith Wilding said: "This money is an amazing donation and will be put to very good use. There are very few towns where traditional-style youth clubs still exist and we are determined to do our best to keep the BYT going and providing positive activities for the young people of Ross-on-Wye.”

BYT has a Facebook page and if anyone would like to know more or is interested in volunteering send a message or call 01989 562145.