Local Mayor, Councillor Liz Savage, has presented £21,518 to the worthy causes she's supported during her Mayoral year.

The funds were raised by Councillor Savage and her Consort Councillor Noel Delaney with the excellent support of the Mayor’s Charity Committee.

There were a large number of events that helped raise the cash, including a sportsmen’s dinner which raised more than £5,000. And to further boost funds a competition was organised for local schools; trophies were presented to the school that raised the most money, the school that raised the most per pupil, and the school that came up with the most innovative fundraising idea.

Last week, one of Councillor Savage’s last duties was to present the cheques to the worthy causes and the trophies to the winning schools.

Cheques went to the Neo-Natal Unit at Ormskirk Hospital, which received £5,488; the Artz Centre, Birch Green, which was given 5,188; The Civic in Ormskirk (£5,188) and the Birchwood Centre, Skelmersdale (£5,291) - the Neo Natal Unit and the Birchwood Centre received slightly more than the others as one or two organisations specified they wanted the money to go to those particular causes.

Aughton St Michael’s (pictured top) raised the most money with £480, and also received the trophy for the most innovative fundraising idea with their balloon race, while Bishop Martin CE Primary School raised the most money per pupil.

In addition to the fundraising by the Mayor's Charity, the Neo-Natal Unit also benefitted by receiving £5,000 from the Ormskirk Hospital League of Friends, which arose from an event attended by the Mayor when she discussed her charities. And HSBC also gave £1,000 after agreeing to match fund the money raised at a bingo night - this was split between the Neo Natal Unit and the Birchwood Centre and was given directly to the charities by the bank.

After the presentation, Crow Orchard Primary School made a donation of £248.56, which pupils and staff raised for the Mayor’s Charity, direct to the Ormskirk Hospital Neo Natal Unit.