KINGSWINFORD and Stourbridge Lions have broken their previous Christmas sleigh fundraising record as they brought festive joy to the town.

The charitable group have been touring round the area this yuletide on their brand new Santa mobile and their efforts have paid off as the club made 2016 their “best ever year”.

During their travels, Santa and his sleigh collected more than £8,250, with static collections adding another £3,686 and a hamper raffle bringing in a further £625 – making a total increase of more than 14 per cent on 2015’s offerings.

Karen Rice, the Lions’ membership chairman, said: “The Kingswinford and Stourbridge Lions Club would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who gave so generously during our annual Santa Sleigh tour around the Kingswinford and Stourbridge area.

“Our brand new sleigh had its first Christmas out and about, in what has proved to be our best ever year.

“We would also like to say a big thank you to the management of Sainsbury’s Amblecote, Aldi Wollaston, Morrison’s Kingswinford, The Ryemarket Stourbridge, and all those who supported us on our statics in the run up to Christmas and to those that bought raffle tickets for our annual Christmas hamper raffle.”

The money collected by the Lions at the area’s supermarkets will be donated to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Beacon Stourbridge and The What Centre, while local charities who helped with collections and the club’s chosen charities will also be handed a proportion of the cash at a presentation evening set to be held at the end of January.