CO-OP shoppers in Chudleigh, Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead have contributed thousands of pounds to local charities.

The stores combined raised £50,000 for the company’s Community Fund.

The Co-op’s membership programme sees 2p in every £1 spent on Co-op branded products and services shared equally between two funds – the Local Community Fund and the Community Partnerships Fund.

Money spent on carrier bags also goes into the pot.

In Bovey Tracey, three local charities benefited from the money.

Stover Park was awarded £7,383, Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust received £7,820 and RORA, a Christian fellowship trust, received £6,156.

In Chudleigh, shoppers raised £2907 for the Chudleigh Community Project, £3,036 for Chudleigh Wild and £2,848 for the Friends of Chudleigh School who will be using the money for new benches and the garden.

From the Moretonhampstead store, £3,571 was donated to North East Dartmoor Care, a charity providing home care, £2,725 was donated to South Devon Moorland branch of the Pony Club and Moretonhampstead Development Trust received £3,276.

The cheques were presented at Trago Mills Co-op store.

Since 2016, the Local Community Fund has supported more than 25,000 causes across the UK, and members are encouraged to pick a local cause from a selection will make real difference in their local area.