BLACKPOOL Private Hotels Association (PHA) has donated thousands of pounds to local charities this week.

Cheques worth a total of £6,914 were presented to seven charities by Blackpool Mayor Cllr Lily Henderson, on behalf of the association's ladies' charity committee.

Blackpool's Disability Information Service, Donna's Dream House and the Blackpool airport based North West Air Ambulance were among the charities to benefit from 12 months of fund-raising by PHA members.

Association secretary Christine Dougal said: "I haven't got the minutes that go right back to when we started in 1936, but I know that since 1976 we have raised about £130,000 for charity.

"We are really pleased!"