B&M donates £16,000 carrier-bag charges to Marie Curie

Cancer charity Marie Curie has received a £16,000 donation funded through the plastic carrier-bag charge.

The money was raised in 60 B&M stores across Scotland and will be used by local Marie Curie services which support people living with a terminal illness and their families.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead welcomed the donation as he visited a Marie Curie Hospice in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Government said there was a 650 million reduction in the use of plastic bags during the first year of the 5p charge, with about £7 million being donated to good causes as a result.

Marie Curie hospice manager Hilary Ford said: "We're delighted that B&M Stores and its Scottish staff chose Marie Curie as their nominated charity - all the money raised will make a difference to people living with a terminal illness and their families."

B&M said it chose to support Marie Curie as one of their beneficiary charities from the bag charge as many staff have a personal connection to the charity.

Local manager Alistair Stewart said: "We're delighted to be able to make this donation to such a worthwhile cause and to see personally the great work carried out at the hospice is very humbling.

"We look forward to our continued relationship with the Marie Curie team and our continued support into the future."

Mr Lochhead said: "This is a really wonderful donation from B&M Stores to a very worthy cause.

"It was both humbling and inspiring to visit the hospice and meet some of the patients and families who will benefit from this generous donation.

"We want the charge to cut single-use carrier bag usage in Scotland to reduce litter and help the environment, but it is wonderful to see how this has evolved, and now organisations such as Marie Curie are also benefiting."