Ref. 28426-38NO one likes paying for car parking, but at least weekend shoppers at the Great Western Outlet Village knew their cash was going to a good cause.

Motorists raised a whopping £3,500 for the Swindon Cancer Appeal simply by parking their cars during the centre's giant winter clearance sale.

McArthurGlen, which runs the centre, donated all the parking money from the two-day sale to the appeal.

Centre manager Franco Muccini said: "Over the two days almost 6,000 motorists parked at the centre to support the charity and make the most of the discounts on offer."

Fundraisers of all ages are helping the campaign.

At the younger end of the spectrum are the Morris cub scout pack in Marlborough.

The pack of 22 boys and girls raised £200 by holding a sponsored board games evening.

Besides enjoying themselves playing games like Star Wars Monopoly , and helping the appeal, the cubs also got their Caring Challenge badge.

Cub leader Andrew Barnett said: "The cubs could choose the charity they wanted to support, and they decided to raise money for a cancer charity. Many of them had instances of cancer within the family."

Fundraisers across town have been busy in the run up to Christmas, and thousands of pounds has flooded into the appeal office.

Staff at the Ring Coffee Bar in Cavendish Square brought some Christmas cheer to shoppers, and helped boost the appeal.

Employees dressed up in fancy dress on Christmas Eve and set up a Santa's grotto.

Appeal manager Graziella Campisano said: "I'm delighted that people have taken so much time out this Christmas to support others.

"We are all looking forward to hitting the £250,000 mark." The total raised so far is £211, 232.

The aim is to raise £600,000 by 2006 to pay for two specialist Macmillan nurses and a consultant in palliative care for Swindon.

Tamash Lal