The Mayor of Dorchester has smashed his fundraising target.

David Taylor has raised £4,000 for his mayoral charities; The Gap Project in association with Dorset Mind, Dorchester Youth Club, Keep106 community radio and Home Start West Dorset.

The money was raised from Mr Taylor’s talks about the hidden history of Dorchester and Dorset.

Funds will be split equally between each charity.

Mr Taylor said: “I am over the moon and can’t believe we did it. I thought we may raise a couple of thousand pounds if we were lucky but £4,000 is amazing. The talks were fully booked every night.”

Mr Taylor says he is planning on bringing back his history talks this summer.