COPELAND Council staff have netted over £1,500 for two good causes in a charity football match.

The council’s Waste Operatives took on a combined team of Parks, Office and Community Services staff at Whitehaven Miners FC, and ran out 5-2 victors.

But the big winners on the day were Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation who will split the proceeds, raised from sponsorship and a post-match raffle.

Graeme Singleton, a strategic planning technical officer and one of the game’s organisers, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who played and contributed to raise such a fantastic sum for two worthy charities.Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer or heart issues, and we held a minute’s silence before kick-off for a moment of reflection on the reason why we were playing."

“Thanks also to Whitehaven Miners FC for hosting the game, and everyone who donated raffle prizes, with a special mention to Unite the union, B&M Home Store, Egremont Crab Fair Committee and Roper’s chip shop at Mirehouse for their generosity.”