Children who attend a special needs playgroup will benefit from a big donation from the former mayor of Saffron Walden.

Cllr Keith Eden handed over a cheque for more than £7,336 to the Saffron Walden Opportunity Playgroup (SWOP), last week.

Cllr Eden had set himself a target of raising £5,000 for the group, which meets on Wednesday mornings at the United Reformed Church Hall, to help cover its running costs. He was delighted with the total of his fundraising efforts throughout his year in office.

He said: “I wanted to raise money for something very specific to Saffron Walden and something that was a real value to our residents. SWOP is a really great cause and I am so pleased we could raise so much.”

Playgroup leader Sally James said: “The money really gives us the opportunity to plan things for the children that we would otherwise not be able to do.

“As we are a small group it can be difficult for us to fundraise so this takes some of the pressure off and we are able to focus on the children and their parents.”

Cllr Sandra Eden, Keith’s wife, succeeded him as mayor in May. She has chosen St John Ambulance as her charity to support.