WORKERS at Marks and Spencer got on their bikes to help raise more than £4,000 for Bolton Hospice.

Staff at the store in Deansgate raised a grand total of £4,500 for the charity by taking part in a bag pack and a bike ride in-store.

The bike ride, which was carried out by 12 members of staff over three weekends, raised £3,800 for Bolton Hospice.

Each member spent at least half an hour on an exercise bike and some did up to an hour, depending on their fitness levels.

Paul Baxter, food manager at the store, said: “We had a lot fun doing the bike ride — it was a lot better than we anticipated. We were amazed by how much we raised and how many people came to see us on each of the days.

“It’s vital for us to raise money for Bolton Hospice. I don’t personally know anyone who has been treated there, but each of us knows someone who has or has had cancer.

"It’s something which is likely to affect us all at some point, which is why Bolton Hospice’s services are so important.”

The amount raised by Marks and Spencers volunteers is enough to pay for all of the hospice’s patient and family care and support services for 14 hours. 

Stephanie Lacaille, community fundraising manager at the hospice, said: “We’d like to thank staff at Marks and Spencer Deansgate who took part in this tough physical challenge and to everyone, both staff and customers, who very kindly sponsored them.

"The support of local businesses is vital to us as we can only fundraise within the Bolton postcodes.

"This wonderful donation will help Bolton Hospice continue to provide free, expert care to the people of Bolton who have cancer and non-cancer life-limiting illnesses”.