A COLLECTION at Waitrose in Okehampton on September 23 in aid of Hearing Dogs for the Deaf raised £330.

The money was collected by the Devon group of Foresters — an organisation which meets for social activities with many members living in the Okehampton area.

A charity is chosen by the group each year and fundraising activities in the year 2000 have been for Hearing Dogs for the Blind.

PR officer June Rice said the money raised in Okehampton had ensured that the total raised at the end of the year would be in excess of £5,000.

'This will cover the cost of training and maintaining one dog and it means we have reached our target — if not exceeded it,' she said.

'We could not have had a warmer welcome from the staff at the store and the people shopping there — all collectors thoroughly enjoyed the whole day.'