TAVISTOCK Pannier Market was, once again, the location for this year's annual charity bonanza when local charities raised money for local causes.

As usual the event was organised by Friends of Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS) and we were joined by 14 charities on the day.

The mayor of Tavistock, Councillor Philip Sanders, together with the mayoress, officially opened the bonanza and then spent some time visiting the various charities and their volunteers.

The charity bonanza raised almost £5,000 on the day, all of which will be used for the benefit of local people by local charities. The pannier market was crowded all day and everyone visiting us seemed to recognise the quality of the goods for sale, the sheer enthusiasm of the volunteers and also the need, today more than ever, of strong voluntary organisations in this area that can assist the statutory bodies to carry out their much-needed work.

But, over everything else, there is the wonderful feeling we volunteers have of the full and generous support we get from the residents of Tavistock and the surrounding areas. Thank you all very much. We hope that it will continue for some time.

Of course, our work does not stop at this point but continues on through the year in supporting local people. So, if you have time to give, goods to donate or a fund-raising scheme to develop, please remember your local charities.

Thank you to everybody.

Bryan Podmore

Friends of TASS

The Anchorage Centre