POOLE Townsend has so far raised more than £3,000 by taking part in Charity Will Month this November.

The Barrow-based firm of solicitors, financial advisers and estate agents, which also has offices in Dalton, Ulverston, Grange, Kendal and Milnthorpe, is supporting the North West Air Ambulance and St Mary’s Hospice.

The initiative sees Poole Townsend's clients donate the fee that it would normally charge for drawing up a will to the fundraising pot.

With the average will costing £150 to £200, the cash soon mounts up.

Poole Townsend partner Martin Oates sees the scheme as a great opportunity to give something back to the local community while raising awareness of the importance of writing a will.

He said: "We have had a fantastic response so far, with lots of people coming forward and taking part in this charity drive.

"We have marked Charity Will Month in previous years, but we’re hoping to raise more than ever this time.

"A will is typically one of those things that people put to the back of their minds, but we’re using this month to raise awareness and prompt people to come along and find out more about how important a will really is.

“As a local company, we’re really pleased to be able to do something that gives back to the local community and help two vital charities.

"St Mary’s Hospice is a cause that has had an impact on the lives of so many people, and the North West Air Ambulance is a service that is crucial to the local area.”

He added: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the response so far and we’re hoping more people will come forward.

"Our staff are delighted, as each one of our offices is very active when it comes to fundraising and many staff members have raised money as individuals, so it’s really nice to do something that brings the whole team together.”