AS 2016 drew to a close, so did a Ponteland charity group which has helped to raise an incredible total of £51,000 over the years.

Bruce Grant formed the Pont Charity Group in 2010 after independently raising £23,000 for good causes.

He soon had a group of people on board, such as an ex mayor, business owners and a retired managing director, who helped in his efforts to gather funds from the generous people of Ponteland and beyond.

A series of concerts and raffles helped raise nearly £28,000 to support charities across the North-East and sometimes further afield.

Having turned 90 on Boxing Day, Bruce, who lives in Ponteland, could no longer continue the work – and when no one could be found to take over, he decided to wind up the charity.

Bruce said: “Before I go I would like to record my thanks and appreciation to a myriad of people.

“Throughout life, both professionally and privately, people have helped me – seeing either a lost lamb or, more simply, a keen worker.

“Any small success that I have had in life has been thanks to just such help from kind-hearted folk, and to them all, I give a simple thank you.”