BLACK Country shoppers are being asked to vote for a charity which will be supported by a supermarket giant this year.

The Amblecote and Merry Hill Sainsbury’s stores are set to make a shortlist of charities for their customers to select from.

After the vote, which takes place in store between June 13 and 26, the winning charity will then receive a year of support from the stores, including fundraising and awareness.

Kirsty Rose, Sainsbury’s Amblecote store manager, said: “There are so many fantastic charities in the local area who do brilliant work in our community.

“We’d love to hear from charities we haven’t supported before.”

In the last year, shoppers and staff at the Amblecote store dug deep to raise £25,865.35 for different causes.

The store has made 72 donations to local charities and community groups including the Mayor of Dudley’s charities, the annual Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and Sport Relief.

Customers also supported The Wellcat charity and The Black Country Food Bank, which received £4,392.88 in food donations for local families experiencing hardship or crisis. While last year’s ‘Charity of the Year’ – The Paul Ackrill Fund – received £4,009.91.

Kirsty added: “We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our customers, who have helped us raise this amazing amount of money, in support of our local community and good causes.

“Our store is at the heart of our local community and it’s wonderful how everyone gets involved.”

To nominate a ‘Charity of the Year’ for 2016 visit the customer service desk at the Sandringham Way store, or the Merry Hill Centre, before the deadline of Monday, May 9.