Richard BatsonA leading Norfolk independent retail business donated almost �13,000 to charities last year.Richard Batson

A leading Norfolk independent retail business donated almost �13,000 to charities last year.

The �12,838 worth of gifts came from Bakers and Larners department store at Holt and is sister supermarket Budgens, which it also runs in the town.

Cash from the 2p carrier bag sales at the two food halls raised �4,551, with beneficiaries including the town's youth project (�1,505), first responders (�1,013 for defibrillators), community centre (�492) and nationally the Army Benevolent Fund (�1,137).

Budgens nominated charity for the year was the Clic Sergeant cancer charity which received �3,251 of the �3,894 raised from various events.

Bakers and Larners supported the North Norfolk-based youth support charity the Benjamin Foundation with �1,692 from its �4,392 charity total, while the company's builders' merchants division also donated �1,000 to the Stalham-based Museum of the Broads.