A SWINDON company has kicked off a charity swimathon for the Children's Scrapstore by donating £200.

The organisation, which provides community groups with material scraps, is holding the swimathon to raise funds to keep the shop going.

And paint suppliers, C Brewers and Sons, based in the Hawksworth Trading Estate, got things off to a flying start with their contribution.

Scrapstore manager Olivia McCann, says that the store, which has been running for 20 years, said: "This was a really generous donation to get us started but we still need people to take part in the swim and raise as much money as possible.

The shop, based in the Pinehurst People's Centre, collects unwanted materials from businesses and individuals and gives them to groups such as schools, playgroups, nurseries and youth clubs.

Olivia said: "Businesses send surplus stock or waste to the dump but to our members it's a source of education and creativity.

"Unfortunately Swindon Council recently cut our funding and this has left us in a very difficult situation with a large gap to fill.

"The future of Swindon Scrapstore is now seriously threatened and if we cannot raise the £30,000 through other activities we may have to close.

The sponsored swimathon will be at the Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool on Saturday, June 4.

To find out how you can take part, or to help the store in another way, contact Olivia McCann, on 01793 513982.