SCOUTS in Dorchester have raised £5,400 through their annual Christmas card delivery.

Around £2,500 of the cash will go to 14 charitable organisations, most of whom will receive £185 each.

The remainder of the cash will go back into Scouting.

Post organiser John Scutt said: "We were very happy with the amount raised.

"The Scouts' share will go towards funding the 10 Scouting groups and the Explorer Scout unit in the Dorchester district and help with venue hire, adult leader training and buying equipment.

"The organisations we're supporting were selected by around 40 helpers who sorted and delivered the cards."

The organisations which benefited include - the league of friends of Dorset County Hospital, Talking Newspapers for the Blind South East Dorset, First Steps pre-school in Dorchester, West Dorset Women's Refuge, West Dorset Breast Cancer Support Group, the Dorchester Lodge of Moose, Ridgeway Radio, The Keep military museum, Dorset Advocacy, Poverty Action Group, Dorset Voluntary Fund for Hearing Impaired Children and Julia's House.

Another £185 was split between the seniors club of St Mary's Church, Dorchester and the Salvation Army over-60s club.

Mr Scutt said the post broke two previous records by raising an average 13p per card in donations and delivering a record 41,600 cards.