PEOPLE in Dorchester are being urged to dig deep and raise cash for the mayor's annual Christmas appeal.

Coun Robin Potter has written to businesses across the town urging them to spare a few pounds for the appeal in aid of The Dorset Youth Association.

He said: "I am hoping that the people and businesses of Dorchester will again respond generously, as they have done in previous years, to the Mayor and Mayoress's Christmas appeal in aid of their charitable cause for the year.

"This year I am pleased to be supporting the Dorset Youth Association and, in particular, the Routes advisory centre for young people which is in North Square.

"I am grateful that my family background, both when I was growing up and as a parent myself, has been stable and supportive but I know that not all young people can always say this.

"It is for such as these that schemes like Routes are so valuable, enabling them to come for advice and encouragement when things get difficult. Intervention at an early stage by organisations such as DYA can often keep a young person away from larger problems which need much more expensive treatments.

"Please give what you can to help this organisation to help others to help themselves."

Coun Potter said that it was coming up to the busiest time of the year for him and his wife Val.

"We hope to be able to support many people and organisations in their seasonal events. I have really enjoyed my first six months in office, meeting so very many amazing people in and around our wonderful town, and am looking forward to 2007."

Anyone interested in making a donation can take it along to the town council's offices in North Square.