Christmas is a time for giving -- which is exactly what a group of Preston drivers did at their annual festive get-together.

For staff from Driver Hire Preston, based on Strand Road, enjoyed a great night partying and in a matter of a few hours managed to raise a fantastic £5,000 for the evening's two chosen charities -- Barnardo's and Children with Leukaemia.

The staff held their Christmas party and helped raise the money through various raffles and auctions.

The money, which is being split equally between the two good causes, will be used to help their continued work in 2001.

At Barnardo's the main focus in the coming year is to tackle child poverty. Evidence clearly links health and wealth and shows that Britain's disadvantaged children face massive inequalities compared to children born in to more affluent homes.

Children with Leaukaemia are stepping up their battle against this killer disease and the cash raised will go towards funding a new Lifeline centre in Bristol.

Steve Lloyd, from Driver Hire Preston, said: "Christmas is a time when we all think about children.

"The sum raised this year was a record and we're just glad to know that it will be working to help young people, not just at Christmas but all the year round."