CO-OP shoppers raised �250 for a popular talking newspaper after embracing a Pick Up a Penny fundraising campaign.

The initiative at the Co-op’s March store in Badgeney Road - launched in the Cambs Times - helped collect much-needed funds for the volunteer-run charity.

The scheme was just part of the store’s fundraising efforts for The March and Chatteris Talking Newspaper.

Staff have already staged a quiz and completed a sponsored cycle ride and are hoping to raise more money with a Christmas event.

Mayor of March, Councillor Bernard Keane, the newspaper’s chairman, said: “What the store is doing is fantastic because we rely solely on donations for our survival.

“The Pick Up A Penny donation will be used to buy more CDs to record the news and features on. We do it twice a month and get through 50 each time.”

Store manager Andy Ayres praised his customers for their “amazing response” to the scheme which saw the Co-op give 1p for every till receipt handed in by customers to the talking newspaper.

He said: “We collected almost 25,000 receipts and we want to continue raising money for the paper which is such a brilliant service.”

The newspaper - which has been running for more than 20 years and is put together by 33 volunteers in a studio at March Town Hall - provides recorded news and features on CD free of charge twice a month to people living in the two towns and the surround villages.

It helps the blind or partially sighted, or those under temporary or permanent incapacity or disability, by providing record tapes or tactile reading matter.

• For more information on the service contact Cllr Keane on 01354 653848.