A DORSET estate agency that has been supporting the NSPCC for more than 15 years raised more than £3,000 for the charity last year.

Connells Estate Agents, that has a host of offices across Dorset including in Weymouth, Dorchester and Wareham, raised a total of £3,340 throughout last year.

The amount makes up the company’s yearly donation to the NSPCC, which was raised through various fundraising events, including the annual Connells Partner’s Ball, a senior staff member’s auction, branch bake sales and company dress down days.

Connells Estate Agency chief executive, David Plumtree, presented the NSPCC with a cheque for the donation at Connells’ head office in Leighton Buzzard.

Martin Coombs, area director said: “We’ve been supporting the NSPCC for more than 15 years. Their work is so important to the lives of many children around the UK and we’re thrilled to be able to continue contributing in this way. In early 2016, we pledged to raise £2,000 for Childline’s 30:30 campaign and we’re glad to say we’ve smashed that target and are planning for even bigger, better things this year.”

The NSPCC is the UK’s leading charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The charity runs a range of locally-based services for children and families; campaigns to help change and improve the lives of children; runs a helpline for adults to call if they are concerned about a child; and provides ChildLine, the UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline and online service for children and young people to call if they need help or advice.

Jacqui Venters, community fundraising manager at the NSPCC said: “We are very grateful to Connells for their wonderful support.

“Childline celebrated thirty years of being there for children who need us last year, but we are still only able to answer three out of every four calls to Childline, with calls coming in every 25 seconds across the UK.

“On behalf of the charity and all of the children that will be helped I want to say a huge thank you to all of Connells’ employees and clients.”