A Surrey charity is celebrating after three of its community-based projects were given a helping hand by a supermarket.

Tesco has donated £8,000 from its Bags of Help initiative to Surrey Wildlife Trust after shoppers voted in store to help their work.

The money will help enable school children to get closer to nature, provide better outdoor learning facilities and help volunteers protect vital habitats on Chobham Common.

Surrey Wildlife Trust’s director of education, people and wildlife Aimee Clarke said: “We are absolutely delighted with these generous donations from Tesco and so grateful to all the customers who voted for us. This money will make a real difference to both wildlife and the community.”

The Bags of Help scheme raises money from the five pence plastic bag charge with shoppers choosing their favourite local cause using tokens given out at check-outs.