Tunnel top-up

PROCEEDS raised at a community charity event have been distributed to a variety of worthwhile causes. Over £15,000 was raised when 5,000 visitors braved low temperatures to attend the Festive Community Event inside the Baldock bypass tunnel in December, h

PROCEEDS raised at a community charity event have been distributed to a variety of worthwhile causes.

Over £15,000 was raised when 5,000 visitors braved low temperatures to attend the Festive Community Event inside the Baldock bypass tunnel in December, hosted by the Rotary Club of Baldock.

Last week, guests from 13 of the 16 groups nominated to receive gifts from the club gathered at a reception at the Zeus Hotel and Restaurant in the High Street, Baldock.

John Wright, the co-ordinator of the tunnel event team, and club president Malcolm Bage distributed gifts to Baldock Community Association, Baldock Community Bus, Inner Wheel Club of Baldock, the Baldock District Guides and Brownies, Baldock Air Cadets, Baldock Town Twinning, St John Ambulance, Baldock Methodist Church, Baldock United Reformed Church, Christchurch and St Mary's Church, both in Baldock, the Garden House Hospice in Letchworth GC and the Stotfold Salvation Army Band.

Other nominated recipients, who were unable to attend the event, were the Baldock Catholic Church, Knights Templar School Big Band and the Baldock Midnight Morris Dancers.

Cllr Linda Needham, chairman of North Herts District Council, congratulated the rotary club and gave words of appreciation on behalf of the recipients.

She said: "What you did in that tunnel was fantastic. The club worked extremely hard to get the event organised and it was worth it in the end.

"Although I had to leave early and go to another event, from what I witnessed I thought the day was wonderful.