A KIND-HEARTED motorist has raised more than £2,000 for refugees in war-torn Kosovo after raffling her car in her local pub.

Margaret Murray, of Grane Road, Haslingden, hit upon the fund-raising idea after watching the crisis unfold on the television news.

And she promptly decided to put her Renault 11 up as first prize.

Margaret, secretary of the Grane Residents' Association, explained: "I'd already decided to sell the car anyway and wouldn't have got much for it so I thought of the raffle to get as much money as I could.

"It was my idea originally but I asked other members of the Grane Residents' what they thought and they were among lots of people who wanted to help.

"Everyone has been great." The Renault was put through it's MOT by Wavell Garage, Helmshore, and later taken to Blackburn's Caledonia, who had also promised to do some work to get it in tip-top shape.

Margaret went on: "When we got to Caledonia there was nothing needed doing so they said we could upgrade the car instead and we ended up with an F-reg Mazda for the draw.

"The person who won has now ended up with a car two years younger than I drive myself!" The raffle was drawn by Barbara Lord of the Rossendale Red Cross Kosovo Appeal in the Holden Arms, Haslingden, when 20 prizes were up for grabs, including a full car service and a meal for two in the pub restaurant.

Margaret added: "We sold 1,000 tickets for £2 each and other things on the night raised another £314.

"I can't believe how much we have raised, people were still asking for tickets behind the bar when they had all gone.

"I'd like to thank everybody who helped and got involved."

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