A YORK garden centre has raised more than £25,000 for charity.

Dean’s Garden Centre staff in York and Scarborough chose to support the Multiple Sclerosis Society and York Blind & Partially Sighted Society last year, and held several fundraisers including a 10k run and a brass band concert to raise £25,217.60, with a £2,500 donation from the partners of the garden centre business.

Diane Rowarth, from York Blind & Partially Sighted Society, said “We are absolutely thrilled that Dean’s Garden Centre have raised the fantastic amount of £14,257.97 for York Blind and Partially Sighted Society.

"We thank all of the staff, partners and customers for their enthusiasm, hard work and generosity. It takes an enormous amount of consistent effort to raise such a large sum, and we really appreciate what they have done.

"Their efforts will help us to run our Equipment and Information Centre in Rougier Street, York, a unique service really valued by blind and partially sighted people."

The business thanked its customers, suppliers and staff.

This year the York centre is raising for Candlelighters and Martin House Hospice while the Scarborough branch has chosen Anthony Nolan.