SALTASH Age Concern has celebrated 10 years of running its lottery.

The lottery was the brainchild of Arthur Allen, who said that in the past 10 years £12,915 has been paid out in prizes, and £11,333 taken as income to Age Concern.

He was present at the celebrations, as was chairman of Saltash Age Concern Margaret Smith, the charity's senior operations manager in Cornwall Alan Hampton, former treasurer Ron Bragg, past and present drivers and lottery collectors, as well as luncheon club members and members and officials of other groups within the organisation.

Mr Allen, who retired as lottery organiser at the end of March, said the income had seen nine easy chairs purchased for the luncheon club, crockery for the social club, £3,360 to the mini-bus fund, £1,147 to the building fund and £5,321 to the general fund.

Mr Hampton presented Mr Allen - who was mini-bus co-ordinator and who has also recently retired as a mini-bus driver after 14 years - with an engraved tankard and a framed scroll and card signed by friends, colleagues and members of various Saltash Age Concern clubs.

Peter Harris, mini-bus co-ordinator then entertained with music on his keyboard, while a display of photographs entitled 'Saltash Age Concern Through the Years' drew much interest.

The organisation has now been in existence for almost 17 years.