STAFF and customers Sainsbury’s in Bishop Auckland are celebrating after raising more than £4,000 for Comic Relief.

A series of fundraising activities took place over the week leading up to Red Nose Day with staff members joining in.

Customers also bought Red Nose charity items and all together £4,329 was raised for the good cause which helps the poor in the UK and Africa.

Christine Jeffery, Store Manager, said: “Our colleagues always go the extra mile for Red Nose Day, and this year was no exception.

“I’d like to thank all of our customers who donated or took part in the activities we held in store

“It was a record year for Sainsbury’s and it’s brilliant to know we contributed to the impressive figure donated from Sainsbury’s to Comic Relief.”

The fundraising activities included guess the number of sweets in the jar, a tombola, name the bear, a dress up day, a raffle and face painting.

The store also raised £282 in sponsorship for the charity via a lady in red event at the store.

Nationally Sainsbury’s raised £11.5m to help boost the Red Nose coffers with additional funds still to be collected.

Comic Relief this year took place on Friday, March 13, and it raised £78,082,988.