A LOCAL charity reached a major milestone this week after supplying its 1,000th family with much needed furniture and cooking equipment since it was formed last year.

And Blackburn Churches Action had a special helper for the occasion when the deputy mayor of Blackburn, councillor Maureen Bateson, turned up to help load the van.

The charity, based at Unity Trading Estate, Pearson Street, Blackburn, formed in June 1995 and has since come to the rescue of needy families throughout the area.

Martin Douglas from the charity said: "It was particularly pleasing for Mrs Bateson to help us celebrate this landmark as she donated £500 to the charity for the mayor's fund from her time in office last year.

"We are very grateful to her for giving up her spare time and it gives tremendous encouragement to our voluntary helpers who come to the store week in week out to help load up the vans and distribute the furniture"

He added: "We are a voluntary organisation and we solely rely on donations from the caring public of Blackburn to meet with our demands to help families.

"We hope we will receive just as much support in the future so that we can help the next 1,000 families as soon as possible."

Anyone who would like to make a donation to Blackburn Churches Action should ring 678000.

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