THREE Dudley borough charities will have a cash boost thanks to the mountainous efforts of the Bert Bissell Memorial Walk team.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin and his fellow fundraisers will hand over £8,000 to Diabetes UK, Friends of Alfie Johnson and Dudley Centre for Inclusive Living - the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Mohammed Hanif's chosen charities - on Friday (October 21).

The team raised the cash by braving Ben Nevis in August, in memory of the Dudley hero, who climbed the mountain on VJ Day in 1945 and many times afterwards, constructing a Peace Cairn at its summit.

Cllr Hanif said: “I am really grateful for everyone who took part in the walk – it wasn’t easy and the team did brilliantly.

“This is a great amount of money which will go really far in helping local people in Dudley”

Mr Austin, who organises the annual climb, added: “I’m really pleased we’ve been able to support these great charities who do brilliant work for people in Dudley.

“Local people have been so generous. Bert Bissell was a great friend of my family and the generosity local people have shown in his memory is a great tribute to the wonderful work he did in the area.”