FORMER Devizes Mayor Roger Giraud-Saunders has given a boost to three organisations that all make a difference to the community with the proceeds of fundraising events from his year in the top civic job.

Mr Giraud-Saunders, who was mayor from May 2015 until May this year held a formal presentation ceremony at Devizes Town Hall on Thursday to present £1,000 to each of his chosen charities.

Stuart Hislop, Mary Rennie and David Dowding for the Drews Pond Wood project which looks after woodland and streams close to the old Roundway Hospital were delighted to received their cheque which will help to fund their conservation work.

Ivan Fowler, Delia Whitehead, Michael Holloway, Faye Douse and Jean Nailor were at the town hall to receive £1,000 for Devizes Almshouses which provides homes for elderly people in the town.

Richard Hopkins a trustee and coach of Devizes Budo Club received the club's cash at a time when it is trying to get a new clubhouse in the town.

When Mr Giraud-Saunders took office he said he wanted to support local causes. He said: "I wanted them to be proper Devizes causes not just a Devizes branch of a national charity. The Budo club is fundraising for a new headquarters, Drews Pond Wood nature reserve is beautiful and a lot of work is needed to maintain it and the almshouses offer affordable retirement accommodation to people with long links with Devizes."

Money was raised from a variety of events including a carol concert and a ball.

This year's mayor Jane Burton has also chosen charities close to her heart to benefit from her time in office. Her husband Richard has has suffered from prostate cancer and she will be supporting the local branch of Prostate Cancer UK.

She is also supporting the local branch of the Firefighters Charity as her son Daniel is a Wiltshire firefighter. She said: "I have chosen these charities as they are important to me and my family but I also hope to make a donation to Julia's House. I am very pleased the charity is going to be opening a hospice in Devizes and want to support it."