MONEY is flooding into the Mayor's Christmas fund to help make the festive season brighter for the borough's over-80s.

Cash and cheques have been pouring in to boost the total to nearly £1,500 but more money is needed to make this year's fund the most successful yet.

With just five weeks to Christmas Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Joy Stanley, is appealing to Echo readers to dig deep and give generously to make sure that the fund's impact is as wide as possible.

She said: "Once again the loyal people of Weymouth have come up trumps and I am delighted with the number of donations that have been coming in.

"But we still need more money to help the over-80s have an extra special Christmas.

"Just £10 will help an elderly person to do something a little bit special and treat themselves at a time of year where money can be a bit tight.

"So far we have had about 300 people apply to the fund but we are expecting that at least 500 will so we are aiming to collect at least £5,000 this year."

The money will be given to the borough's elderly, who have applied for a helping hand at Christmas time, in the form of grocery vouchers to help make the festive season a little bit easier for them.

Donations should be sent to the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland at the council offices, North Quay, Weymouth, DT4 8TA and cheques should be made payable to 'The Mayor's Christmas Fund'.

Donations that have been received so far are as follows: Hardwicke & Co, £30. Weymouth & District Photographic Society, £10. Weymouth Hotels and Catering Association, £50. Wyke Regis Community and Sports Association, £15. Royal Naval Association Weymouth branch, £25. St Augustine's Church, £50. Mr J G Williams, £10. Hon Alderman Rev R A Weaver, £10. Councillor Anne Thomas, £10. Maiden Street Methodist Church, £40. Weymouth Tennis Club, £50. Councillor and Mrs Peter Rendall, £20. Parachute Regiment Association Wessex branch, £50. Ancient Order of Foresters (Highclere), £150. Weymouth and Portland Open Bowls Tournament, £30. Medipost (UK) Ltd, £30. Hull Gregson & Hull, £15. Councillor and Mrs Doug Hollings, £20. BHC Aerovox Ltd, £25. The Streamside Hotel, £49. Mr David Jones (DJ Contracts), £200. Betterment Properties, £50. Friends of St George's Church, Portland, £25. Neapolitan (Weymouth) Limited, £50. Royal Arcade Limited, £50. Mrs Marjorie Perriam, £10. Mrs P E Russell, £5. Councillor John and Mrs Sarah West, £10. Mrs Patricia Houlberg, £20. Harry's Bar (Weymouth) Ltd, £20. Mr and Mrs Vacher-Dean from the Boot Inn, £20. Royal Air Forces Association Weymouth and Portland, £15. Royal Dorset Yacht Club, £10. Weymouth Golf Club Limited, £25. Hon Alderman and Mrs Arthur Sheppard, £10. Councillor Andy Hutchings, £10. Hon Alderman Mrs Jess Nagel, £10. St Mary's Church, £50. Co-operative Women's Guild, £20. Hon Alderman and Mrs Bob Beare, £20. Weysure Limited (insurance brokers), £20. Weymouth Sailing Club, £50. Hon Alderman Mrs E G Wright, £10. Weymouth Angling Society, £10. Battens (solicitors), £20. Hon Alderman Mrs Irene Sanderson, £10. Councillor and Mrs Roy Gainey, £10. Mr Ian Locke, £10. Councillor Peter Farrell, £5. Anonymous, £10. Councillor Lynne Herbert, £10.