Melton's Trumpton charity hands out cheques and awards to worthy causes

This year’s Trumpton tour and collection, a tradition that takes place in the run-up to Christmas, raised a record-breaking £6,664.

The community was asked to nominate local good causes, groups and worthy individuals who would benefit from a share of the cash.

And at a presentation night on Friday, held at the Melton Polish Club, all of this year’s beneficiaries received their awards as well as enjoying a buffet and disco.

The beneficiaries and their awards were:

The Friends of St Mary’s School - a new shed to store equipment

103 The Eye community radio station - £300 towards running costs

Sandy Lane Mother and Toddler Group - A CD player and story time CDs

The Wellbeing Art Group - £400

Deena Morrell - a sofa bed for a disabled child while in respite

Melton and District Furniture Project - £200 towards ongoing running costs

Scalford Pre-school - An iPad Air

The Belvoir Cricket & Countryside Trust - £268 towards a cricket summer school in Asfordby

The Melton Community First Responders - £500 towards a new defibrillator

The Crafty Ladies of Melton Mowbray - £250 towards equipment

Parents’ Solution Circle (Melton support group for parents of children with special needs or behavioural problems) - £400 for a fun day this summer

The 1279 Melton Mowbray Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) - £500 towards new first aid training equipment

Oasis Family Centre - new sensory toys and equipment

Play Days Pre-school - £350 towards new equipment

Long Field Academy - a new greenhouse and gardening equipment

Melton Mencap - £150

Melton firefighter and treasurer of the Trumpton committee Scott Smith said remaining funds would be used to make donations throughout the year as well as some being spent on necessary work on the Trumpton engine.

He said: “We really want to thank all the residents who donated this year. If they didn’t give any money then it wouldn’t work.”

Mo Jackson, of the Crafty Ladies of Melton Mowbray, said: “We’d like to send a very big thank you to Trumpton for our fantastic donation which means we won’t have to carry loads of equipment back and forth each week and we will have funds to make things for local groups.

“We had a great night on Friday and it was uplifting to see so many local causes benefit from Trumpton’s hard work.”

Long Field Academy tweeted: “A massive thank you to Melton’s Trumpton fundraising fire engine and the committee for our amazing donation of a greenhouse and gardening equipment for school. It will be put up and set up over the Easter holidays.”