Squire’s Garden Centre in Long Ditton raised £1,340 for The Royal Star & Garter Home in Surbiton from its Christmas Grotto.

It comes from a combination of ticket sales to see Father Christmas and collection buckets manned by the charity’s staff and volunteers at the Grotto.

The money will go towards a new minibus for the Home, which will be used to take residents on outings and to attend medical appointments.

The Royal Star & Garter Homes, which cares for ex-Servicemen and women living the disability and dementia, is the garden centre’s official charity of the year for 2018-19.

In August, Squire’s Long Ditton gave two wooden barrels filled with flowers to help the Home celebrate its fifth anniversary. And in October, the Woodstock Lane North branch donated 1,000 tulip bulbs which were planted by staff and volunteers at Surbiton. Residents are also treated to delicious lunches during regular visits to the garden centre.

Garden Centre Manager Anne Dedman said: “On behalf of the team at Squire’s Long Ditton, I would like to thank all customers who visited Santa’s Grotto last year and raised a total of £1,340 for our chosen charity of the year through a combination of ticket sales and generous donations. Each of our centres selects its own community-based charity, so we can ensure that local people are supporting a charity they can see making a vital difference within our own community.”

Caley Eldred, Director of Support Engagement at the Charity, said: “We’re grateful to Squire’s Long Ditton for their continued support, and its customers who have helped raise this significant total during the season of goodwill. The money will go towards ensuring that residents can continue going on outings and living life to the full.”

The Royal Star & Garter Home in Surbiton is also involved in the Tesco Bags of Help scheme, which will see the Charity secure up to £4,000 for a new minibus. Tesco shoppers can support The Royal Star & Garter Homes by voting in seven Tesco Express stores within Kingston before 28 February.