VOTES are needed to help an over-60s group raise enough funds for a Christmas party or trip away.

Bigrigg Over-60s club has been shortlisted by Skipton Building Society in a competition which sees 163 pots of £500 handed out.

Over 700 applicants bid for the cash prize and the Bigrigg group has made the final 376 - now it needs public votes.

“The money will go towards our Christmas party or a trip next spring,” said the club’s fundraiser Joan Holland.

“We meet once a fortnight and it’s an opportunity for people to get together, we’re nearly all in our late 60s, 70s or 80s.

“It gets people out of the house who don’t really ever go anywhere. Last time we went on a trip to Hexham. We have been shortlisted and now we need support.”

Voting is open until Friday, October 14 and the 163 winners will be announced on Monday, November 7. The club needs support from the community as many of the members do not have a computer or email address.

“I asked all our members to vote but half don’t even have computers and there isn’t a Skipton branch in Whitehaven. I’ve even had my brother in Australia voting,” said Joan.

Voters need to visit www.skiptongrg.co.uk and find the north west category under voting now open. They then need to select Bigrigg over-60’s Circle, enter their email address and click vote.

Skipton Building Society is one of the UK’s largest building societies. Its Grassroots Giving scheme gives the public a chance to decide where the money goes. In the past three years, it has donated a total of £241,500 to 483 small organisations.

A National Lottery donation helped the Bigrigg club to take their last trip to Hexham. The club enjoyed a tour of Hexham Abbey, which included a meal, before hitting the local shops.