TO help celebrate Mole Avon Trading Limited's 40th anniversary and their Ruby Appeal for Hospiscare, the company teamed up with Crediton Milling and together have raised £1,241 for the local charity.

During a four week period at Mole Avon's retail branches in Crediton, Axminster and Okehampton for every bag of Layers Mash or Layers Pellets sold, 50p was donated to Hospiscare.

Crediton Milling, based at Fordton, is one of the few remaining family owned and independently run feed mills in the westcountry and they have been supplying animal compound feed to Mole Avon for the past 20 years.

"Mole Avon and Crediton Milling have a long history and we are happy to be working with a local supplier to help raise money for such a worthy local cause," says Richard Billson, Mole Avon chief executive, adding "We have set ourselves a big challenge to raise £40,000 for Hospiscare.

"However, it is a charity that has touched our members of staff, customers, suppliers and their families and we are confident that we can get there and with help we hope to raise more than our target!"

This fundraiser is one of many that has happened this year, and so far the company has raised more than £9,500 for the charity through various events including cake sales and tombola's, a bingo evening, a charity ploughing match and a car boot sale, to name a few.

The remaining money will be raised through a series of fundraising events planned throughout the year.

These will include a skydive in July plus other events at Mole Avon's retail branches and within their local communities including a Craft Fair at Sandford Parish Hall on July 20 plus much more yet to be announced.

For more information about forthcoming fundraising events or if you can help with the Mole Avon Ruby Appeal please contact Mole Avon Town and Country Stores at Crediton (telephone 01363 774786) or Okehampton (01837 53886).