A FORMER Stourport Mayor has handed over more than £4,000 to his chosen charities.

Ken Henderson and mayoress Lin Henderson spent their year in the post collecting funds for Worcester-based Acorns Children's Hospice, Mentorlink in Stourport and The Poplars in Kidderminster.

Last week, after Mr Henderson handed over his mayoral duties to councillor Cliff Brewer, he met representatives from the three charities at Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, and handed each of them £1,400.

The former mayor said he had managed to fulfil 164 mayoral engagements and collect £4,887 for charity. He still has £687 left, which will go to local clubs and groups in Areley Kings.

He said: "A big thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past year.

"Our first-ever charity fundraising attempt was a steam boat trip and a meal, which was an outstanding success. That gave us the bug to go and raise more money."

Mr Henderson also revealed he wanted to offer organisers of the Camp Burlish memorial at Burlish Top £60 to replace a US Army service helmet stolen from the site last week.

The Conservative told fellow Stourport town councillors at a meeting earlier this month: "It's been a fantastic year. We've visited places we've never visited before. We've met some fantastic people - it's been great."