FESTIVE pensioners at Penn Court Retirement developments in Calne raised over £250 on Thursday.

Stalls devoted to jams, preserves, greetings cards, fair trade products and candles raised £260.82 for the Wiltshire Bobby Van trust.

Residents of the development all voted on which cause they would like the proceeds to go to.

The group unanimously decided to donate the cash the Bobby Van cause.

Bobby Van, which works closely with Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, provides safety and security awareness to the elderly, disadvantaged and vulnerable.

Carpenters and lock-fitters offer a free door fitting, window locks and installations of smoke detectors.

Donations, fundraising events and sponsorship keep Wiltshire's three bobby vans running.

It costs £220,000 a year to keep the vans and drivers on the road.

Since the launch of the Bobby Van service volunteers have visited over 8,000 homes.

Volunteers, known as Bobby operators, are carpenters, trained crime reduction officers and fire risk assessors.

Penn Court, on Oxford Road, is a development of retirement apartments designed for the over 60s.

If you would like to help the Bobby Van cause call (01249) 449652.