CHURCH Minshull Aqueduct Marina has raised more than a thousand pounds to help transform the lives of deaf people across the UK.

£1,643 was generated for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, via raffles, quizzes and events including a dog show at the marina’s annual Family Fun Day earlier this year.

The money will help the charity’s vital work supplying hearing dogs – which alert people to important sounds and help reduce the isolation of deafness.

Terry Webb, chairman of Guide Dogs for Deaf People, said: “We are so grateful to Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina for their support.

“Generally people don’t realise how big a difference hearing dogs make for deaf people and how much they cost to train and support.

“This donation will really help. It costs £2,000 to support a hearing dog partnership for a year but just £10.00 contributes towards an initial assessment for a hearing dog partnership.”

Andrea said, “It is wonderful to be able to donate such a worthy sum to such a magnificent cause. “Hearing dogs really make a difference to people who can’t hear and it is terrific to be able to help the charity.

“We choose a different charity to support each year and the choice is made from suggestions received from our moorers, customers and staff.”

Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina holds several events each year to support charity. The next event is a Christmas Craft Fair and Car Boot Sale being held on Sunday, November 30 between 11am-4pm, with a wide selection of Christmas crafts and gifts for sale.

Crafts for all ages will feature alongside a tombola, dolls’ house furniture, jewellery, photography, glass crafts and decorations, beauty products and home-made cakes.