NEARLY £3,500 was handed out to local groups and charities when Wellington Carnival held its presentation evening.

The money was raised at a number of events including Wellington Street Fair and Wellington Carnival after deducting running costs. 

Chairman Dave Rylatt said: “We were delighted that more than 50 people attended the presentation and are also grateful to our hosts, Wellington Bowling Club.

“The traditional collection continues to decrease year by year but the hard-working committee has managed to raise funds elsewhere.

“We are pleased that our two charities for 2016, Seeability and Selworthy School, received cheques for £500.”

Smaller donations were made to West Buckland Church, Somerset Red Arrow Majorettes, Wellington Scouts, The Lily Foundation, Genesis Youth Theatre, Madge Covey, Rotary Club, Reminiscence Learning, Wellington Silver Band, High Park Singers, Wiveliscombe Wind Band, Court Fields Karate, Skintight Samba, Bollywood Dancers and St John Ambulance.

Carnival secretary Louise Brierley added: “We also gave donations to the PTA groups for Wellesley Park, Rockwell Green and Beech Grove schools in return for them selling novelties at the end of the school day and before carnival.

“The three schools combined managed to sell over £1,000 of novelty toys, as previously reported in WWN. Only sales of toys achieved by carnival actually reaches local groups and charities – any sales by unofficial sellers go directly to illegal workers and entrepreneurs from as far away as the Midlands.”

Mr Rylatt added: “During the presentation, Carnival received

a cheque for £500 from Wellington Majorettes – this was the result

of their work taking our

newly refurbished Santa float to villages and towns just before Christmas.

“This fundraising played an important part in the final funds available for donations. My particular thanks to Dawn and Anth Odgers for planning and supervising the float’s movements which visited more than 1,000 children in Sampford Peverell, West Buckland, Uffculme, Cullompton and Willand.

“It wasn’t just about the fundraising, it was lovely to take part in the tour as we saw so many happy smiling children.”

Mr Rylatt added: “Our thanks also go to our Carnival Queen and Princesses for presenting the cheques.”