CARING shoppers from a Wisbech store have provided a Christmas treat for people with life-limiting illnesses.

Anglia Co-operative’s ‘Pick Up a Penny’ fundraiser at its Elm High Road store in Wisbech donated �200 to the Norfolk Hospice Tapping House in Snettisham.

The store donated 1p for every receipt which was handed in by customers during the campaign and the hospice’s patients and their families enjoyed a Christmas dinner together as a result.

Tim Drew, the Wisbech Co-op’s foodstore manager, said: “The hospice provides a much-needed service and it’s clear that our customers really appreciate what the hospice does - they handed in no less than 20,000 till receipts to make our donation possible.”

Tapping House costs �1million a year to run and almost �900,000 of this comes from donations. More than 280 people are cared for each month by staff at the hospice.

Richard Shaw, chief executive of the hospice, said: “Our patients - and some are from the Wisbech area - will now be able to benefit in the run-up to Christmas.

“We’re very grateful to Anglia Co-operative for their donation.”