EMPLOYEES and customers at Marks & Spencer's York city centre store have raised £31,000 for Martin House Children's Hospice.

A store spokeswoman said £18,000 was raised from in-store collections, which included inviting customers to literally ‘spend a penny’ and make a voluntary donation whilst visiting the customer toilets.

She said the firm's Vangarde store had raised another £17,000 while the Monks Cross outlet had raised just over £5,000 through bucket collections at the tills and by selling teddies and taking part in sponsored bike ride.

Barbara Johnson, who works at the store, said: "We were surprised by how much we have raised, people were really generous.

"We're really pleased."

The funds raised, along with Wetherby Foodhall, White Rose and Crossgate Foodhall also supporting the cause, a combined total of £59,000 has been raised for the hospice.

"Fundraising activities across all the stores included bake sales, bag packs, cycle challenges and the sales of the Martin House bears," she said.

Martin House spokeswoman Brenda Peel said she had been 'truly amazed' by the amount of support received from store staff and customers throughout Yorkshire.

"We rely solely on the generosity of organisations and individuals such as M&S and their customers to enable us to carry out our care to young people with a life-limiting illness."

Shelley King, M&S York Charity Champion, said the hospice at Boston Spa provided an invaluable service and relied heavily on donations and support, which was why staff were so keen to support it, and they had now voted to keep it as their charity of the year in the coming year.

"The staff at M&S York have been really touched by the dedication and care that Martin House staff provide for children and their families," she added.