A BARROW based comedy production has raised almost £500 for local charities in just two months.

Sam Hughes, manager of Laughing Penguin Events, has pledged to raise more than £1000 for Furness charities through his successful charity comedy nights.

Most recently, Mr Hughes held a Stand-up for Local Charities Comedy Night at Barrow Comedy Club in aid of The Birchall Trust which helps sexual abuse survivors.

The event raised £217.74 for the Barrow-based charity which saw more than 60 people turn up to see amateur comedians entertain crowds.

As well as this, Mr Hughes hosted another stand-up charity night in January for Ulverston Mind.

More than 50 audience members turned up to be entertained by some of comedy's wittiest names.

Hosted by The Comedy Mill in Ulverston, the event featured the talents of comedians such as Dominic Woodward, Simon Wozniak, Edy Hurst and headliner Andy Watson, raising £142.31 for mental health charity, Mind.

Mr Hughes said: "So far this year we've raised £459.50 for local charities through comedy nights. My aim was to raise at least £1000 for local charities but it's looking like we'll raise way over that in 2019.

"My main thinking behind the events was that local charities always need funding as they don't have as high a profile as other better known charities. The people round here all want to help each other too."

Mr Hughes' next event is an all-female-led comedy night at Barrow Comedy Club in March.