CHILDREN'S charities have said "thanks a million" to Skipton Building Society savers.

Customers have helped raise £135,269 for the NSPCC and Children 1st in Scotland, bringing the total funds donated to the charities since 1997 to more than £1 million.

Since Skipton launched its NSPCC, Children 1st mini-cash ISA in April 1999, members choosing to invest in the account have forgone 0.5 per cent of their annual interest to help end child cruelty.

Five years on and, added to the £400,000 the society raised from savers opening new accounts in 1997, the sum contributed by Skipton customers is now at £1,002,886.