THE annual charity Bishop’s Harvest Appeal across Lancashire raised £24,782.

Christian Aid and Church Mission Society will benefit from the cash raised by collections in Lancashire’s Church of England schools and parishes last year, with the sum announced by Blackburn Diocese.

Christian Aid produces the publicity for the appeal, which has run since 1996.

Each year a different organisation is invited to share the cash, with a two-thirds share going to Christian Aid and the rest to the ‘guest’ appeal.

On this occasion the ‘Ducks and Muck’ appeal on behalf of the mission society shared in the proceeds.

The ducks are raised by farmers in Bangladesh to provide eggs and meat while the ‘muck’ is to projects in Tanzania teaching better farming techniques.

Bishop of Burnley and Acting Bishop of Blackburn John Goddard said: “I am delighted at this appeal’s wonderful total and my thanks go out to everyone who donated or raised money in any way.

“This kind of effort by the church shows how we can make a real difference with a mission-focussed approach, not only here at home, but overseas as well.”