RETIRING mayors from Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre will leave much more behind than fond memories this year.

Local charities are to have their coffers well and truly filled with cash thanks to the hard work and dedication of former first citizens Henry Mitchell, Anne Smith and Robert Sharrock.

Organisations such as the MRI Scanner Appeal, Age Concern and the Bowland Village Trust will benefit from the bountiful trio, who have each amassed funds in the region of £13,000 over the previous 12 months.

Blackpool's Henry Mitchell has already started to spread around some of the good fortune with £3,500 donated to the British Heart Foundation and £1,000 sent to aid the Kosovo Appeal last week.

The full total is still being totted up but Henry believes it will exceed £13,000 and told the Citizen: "We've had a super year and lots of good fun. I can only thank all those involved for their excellent support, especially with the mayors' parlours.

"Now I'm looking around to see where the money would be best used in both big and small organisations, maybe churches or schools, but I must say my heart does go out to such centres as Donna's Dream House in Blackpool as it touches me to think of those terminally ill children."

Fylde will fare just as well with lucky 13 as former mayor Anne Smith's six adopted charities are each thought to receive a cash injection from the similar sum of more than £13,000.

She said: "There are still one or two big cheques kicking about and so we have no total yet but thanks to my excellent team, my husband Len and two wonderful deputies who kept coming up with these wonderful ideas, we have done marvellously well.

"We had no idea when we started just how much we would raise but we were determined to throw every ounce of energy into it.

"I thought I would divide the amount evenly between Age Concern Lytham St Annes and rural Fylde, Face to Face, Fylde Victim Support, the MRI Scanner Appeal, Dystonia Support and the Omerod Homes and I would also like to continue to support these groups who have grown close to my heart over the many years I have been a councillor."

Wyre has already had its donation wrapped up with departing mayor Bob Sharrock handing over a cheque for a whopping £12,629.67 to the Bowland Village Trust at Friday's mayor-making (May 14).

Bob explained to the Citizen: "The Bowland Village Trust is a very local organisation which provides accommodation of family-sized units to people with learning difficulties.

"It was actually set up in Garstang and there are now five houses in operation with carers, and as a trustee myself I am keen to remain involved in this worthwhile group.

"We have struck gold this year and I must thank everyone for their most generous donations."

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