CREATIVE and greenfingered groups have helped Operation Covert's running total surge past the £30,000 milestone.

Major donations from Kidderminster Horticultural Society and Bewdley Floral Art Club have helped swell the total fund to over £32,000.

The horticultural society cultivated £4,100 from an open gardens event while the floral artists arranged demonstrations that generated a further £1,000.

Kidderminster's Rose Theatre was packed out over three consecutive nights for flower arrangements by members of the Bewdley group which is no stranger to fund raising.

Over the past 13 years, similar events have benefited a variety of mainly local charities to the tune of £30,000.

Out of a total of £4,000 raised this year, £1,000 went to the Wyre Forest branch of the Alzheimer's Society, while Kidderminster War Memorial Restoration Fund and the women's section of the Royal British Legion in Bewdley each received £500.

The £1,000 donated to Operation Covert was received on behalf of the appeal by Joan Nutland, a member of Kidderminster Scout Fellowship, on the final night of the event.

Describing the demonstrations as "absolutely brilliant", she said she was "gobsmacked" so much had been raised for the Shuttle/Times & News appeal to build a replacement for the Rhydd Covert centre destroyed in a fire.

Josey Ling, secretary and programme secretary of the floral art club, said its events had a different theme each year, with this year's called On the Box, to inspire flower arrangements based on TV programmes.

Among shows highlighted were Coronation Street, Playschool, The Good Old Days and Strictly Come Dancing.

The annual fund-raiser was intended to benefit local people of all ages, said Mrs Ling, who explained: "This time, we had the Alzheimer's Society, we had the young with the Scouts and those who are no longer with us, with the war memorial."

Fittingly, the handover of the horticultural society's cheque was in the garden of members Jean and Derek Hughes, of Low Habberley, which formed part of the open gardens day.

It is the biggest single donation received by operation Covert and was raised when members opened 10 gardens and three allotments to the public last month.

It was a record figure for the annual event, organised by Sue Cooke.

A raffle run by Louise Aston accounted for £1,400 while the remaining £2,700 was raised from admission charges, donations, and refreshment sales.

The money was received by Dave Denton, district commissioner for Kidderminster Scouts and eight-year-old Jack crisp who is a member of the KD21 Scout group.