Ref. 28719-28Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves is the old adage and pennies donated from shoppers have helped raise more than £2,000 for local charities.

The Prospect Hospice, in Wroughton, and Brimble Hill Special School, in Park North, each received cheques for £987 from Sainsbury's, in Oxford Road, Stratton.

The money was raised by shoppers who have been re-using their carrier bags and putting the pennies received for doing so in charity collection boxes.

Duty store manager Colin Davies said: "We give a penny for every bag reused and that amounts to a lot of money because 30,000 customers pass through our doors every week."

Over the last year more than £2,000 was collected and the money has been donated to The Prospect Hospice, Brimble Hill Special School, Cancer Research and The Diabetic Association.

Mr Davies said: "It is a wonderful, easy way to support worthy causes. Reusing bags also helps the environment."

Brimble Hill Special School, in Lyndhurst Crescent, teaches children with learning difficulties.

The Prospect Hospice, in Moormead Road, helps 250 people every day with serious illnesses, such as cancer.

Prospect community fundraiser Maggie Gill said: "It costs £7,000 every day to provide our services and 64 per cent must come from the local community.

"Support like this from Sainsbury's makes all the difference."