FORMER Mayor of Winchester Cllr Chris Pines has handed out cheques to his mayoral charities which totalled a massive £40,000.

The cash was raised throughout the last 12 months through small events such as tabletop sales, but also with the help of actor Colin Firth who did and An Audience With at Winchester's Theatre Royal last month (May).

Cllr Pines, who is a retired teacher, and his former Mayoral escort, Denise Baker, handed out cheques at Abbey House, the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester, on Friday (May 30).

Each organisation received just over £10,000. The four charities were: Age Concern Winchester, Friends of the Family, Winchester and District Young Carers Project and Youth Options Youth Support Team.

Ms Baker said: "It is amazing to have raised so much, we are thrilled. We were doing quite well then the Colin Firth show at the Theatre Royal added £4,500 to lift our total.

"Colin Firth gave his services for free as he was a former pupil of Chris's and they stayed friends. We are thoroughly pleased for all our charities."

Cllr Pines said: "We have really ended on a high note. Denise and the committee did all the work and I was just the front man.

"I thought if we made £20,000 we would be doing well but to double that is absolutely fantastic."

Ben Hogbin, of Winchester Young Carers, said: "We are absolutely ecstatic. That £10,000 will go an awful long way to help a lot of young people on our project. The money will go towards the weekly young carers clubs and activities.

"We help young carers aged eight to 18 whose lives are affected by caring for someone in the family with a long term illness, disability, mental health problem or drug or alcohol addiction."

Ian Hadfield, of Friends of the Family, said: "This money will be invaluable. I have got to raise at least £45,000 this year to keep going and this is going to go such a long way. It is wonderful to get it. Our group cannot thank the former Mayor and Mayoress enough and we are absolutely full of admiration for Denise Baker for all her work on the fund-raising committee."

Friends of the Family, based in the Friends Meeting House in Colebrook Street, aims to improve the life chances of children born into vulnerable or damaged families.

Cliff Nash, of Winchester Age Concern, said his charity would put the cash towards buying a second hand minibus which is a lifeline for elderly people in the Winchester district to get to the lunch clubs run by the charity.

He said: "This money saves us because we have been dipping into our reserves. We run four lunch clubs around the city and we also provide a home help service for the old people of Winchester. We are so grateful to the Mayor and Mayoress."

Tracey Maytas from Hampshire Youth Options, said their money would go a long way to providing activities for children living in the rural areas of the district.

"This is more than we hoped for and it is lovely," she said.