CHARITIES in Blackburn and Darwen got involved in a "supermarket sweep", thanks to a superstore's offer.

B&Q DIY and Garden Supercentre in Blakewater Road, Whitebirk, donated more than £3,000 of tiles, paint and paper to local charitable, voluntary and community organisations. Following the company's national policy of helping the environment, the Blackburn superstore invited charities to fill their trolleys free of charge with surplus stock. Eight organisations took advantage of the offer -- Youth Works, of Anyon Street, Darwen; Ivy Street Community Centre, Blackburn; Blackburn Darwen and District Women's Aid; Barnardo's, Rothesay Road, Blackburn; Nightsafe, Jubilee Street, Blackburn; Salvation Army, Blackburn; Project 66, Preston New Road, Blackburn; and Woodvale Project, which is part of Nightsafe, in Darwen.

Wendy Hobson, of the GTECH/Europrint Employee Involvement Project co-ordinated the giveaway extravaganza in association with Jean Nicholson of B&Q.

They are holding a national clean up day on April 30 from 1-4pm, which has been organised with McDonald's.

Anyone who would like to take part in the clean-up at the canal near the B&Q store in Whitebirk can contact Jean on 01254 54328. Any organisation which has surplus waste they would like to donate to charity can contact Wendy Hobson on 01254 661166.

Store manager Jason Colvin is pictured presenting Eileen Fogarty of Barnardos with wallpaper, watched by representatives of other good causes (from left) Mick Ashton, Christine Connell, Julie Skorupka, Wendy Hobson, Dominque Taylor, and Jean Nicholson of B&Q.