A CHARITY fund-raiser was tinged with sadness because the employees of What Everyone Wants in Burnley had already been told they were set to lose their jobs.

The stunt for Radio Lollipop had been planned for several weeks, but last week manager Colette White received a letter from head office saying the shop in Lower St James' Street was to close on July 24.

She said: "I immediately called a meeting of staff to tell them about what was happening and see if they still wanted to go ahead with the charity event and they all said yes.

"They said they wanted to go out with a bang and a laugh and agreed to complete the challenges we had set ourselves of a 12-hour bowl, pub crawl and transporting a giant 11ft lollipop to the Oldham store. "The Burnley store has raised more than £2,000 - £1,000 more than our target - and that is the best figure raised for the charity by any What Everyone Wants store to date."

Colette, and three other members of staff, have been at the store since it opened three-and-a-half years ago.

She said: "The event has been tinged with a bit of sadness but everyone stayed committed to raising money for charity even though they face losing their jobs."

Colette praised then help she has received from other stores and businesses who provided raffle prizes and give-away lollipops.

Although some of the employees may be offered relocation packages, Colette said many worked part-time and lived locally.

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