WE'RE in the money!

That's 23 groups and organisations which have shared in £3,500 worth of funds thanks to this year's Bury Times- organised Bury Carnival.

And representatives from the recipients, together with the mayor and mayoress, gathered in Bury Town Hall for the carnival funds distribution event.

In June, after a one-year absence, the popular gala was resurrected by the Bury Times, assisted by the Bury Lions.

Now, thanks to their efforts, a total of £3,550 was raised to be distributed to many worthwhile organisations.

Bury's mayor and mayoress, Councillor Paul Nesbit and Mrs Shirley Nesbit, were the guests at the event.

Plans are already being made for the staging of the Bury Carnival next June.

Julie Wheeler, group events manager for the Bury Times, said: "After the tremendous success of this year's carnival we will be organising a bumper two-day event for June 8 and 9 next year. And we will be looking to raise even more money for local worthy causes." Organisations which received cheques from this year's event were:

Mayoral Charity Fund £250; Speakeasy £200; Bealey Community Hospital £200; Bury Hospice £200; Bury and District Scout Association £200; Bury and District Girl Guides Association £200; Fairfield Children's Ward £150; Sensory Garden (Highbank Rehabilitation Centre) £150; Jubilee Centre (Age Concern) £150; Bury Music Centre £150; Cystic Fibrosis £150; Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted £150; Bury Drug Awareness Unit £150; Samaritans £150; St John Ambulance £150; Victim Support £150; Bury FC Disabled Supporters £150; The Jinnah Centre £150; WRVS £150; Bury Tandem Cycle Club £150; The Hurdles Charity £100; Dora Butler Children's Home £50 and Beech Grove £50.