FOR nearly 40 years, Sidmouth charities have benefitted from Sidmouth Bowling Club s annual charity Bonanza.

FOR nearly 40 years, Sidmouth charities have benefitted from Sidmouth Bowling Club's annual charity Bonanza.

Held at its Coburg Terrace club on August Bank Holiday Monday (August 31), this year between 9.30am and 11.30am, members hope to raise around �3,500, which will go to Sidmouth Voluntary Services, which runs Twyford House.

Organisers Bert and Pat Hague say some �50,000 has been raised to help more than 20 local charities by its Bonanza event, which last year was held in abeyance when the club was busy with its centenary celebrations.

"This is just one day in the year when members demonstrate that we are more than just a bowling club," said Bert.

"The whole club gets behind this and is keen to give help to the local good causes that need it.

"The members decide by voting which charity or charities will benefit each year."

Chairman Len Catford, a former Bonanza organiser, said: "This is the club's major fundraising event and in recent years we have raised about �3,000 a year."

Its members have already helped by bidding for several donated prizes to the club, and have so far raised around �800.

One member bought a House of Commons bottle of whisky, signed by David Cameron, for �75.

Two holiday prizes, sold before next Monday's event, have fetched several hundred pounds each.

Stalls will include jewellery, china, bric-a-brac, cakes, books, plants, a bottle tombola and massive prize draw.

Items to win include a two-night break at Manor Hotel, Exmouth, Sunday lunch for two at the Royal Glen Hotel, Sidmouth, a spa and back massage at the Royal York Hotel and tickets for two at the Minnack Theatre, Cornwall.

"Local businesses have been very supportive this year," said Bert.

In all 23 prizes have been donated by local businesses, many of these are family tickets to places such as Escot, Ottery St Mary, Bicton Gardens and Pecorama, Beer.

Len is expecting a queue at the start of the event. "They are usually champing at the bit for the doors to open," he said.