Kirpal Sohal - know as Paul - and his wife Raj have been collecting funds for good causes in their Costcutter store, in Crich.

Last week the couple handed over a cheque for £500 to Crich Scout Group. The money has been raised over the past two and a half years through a scheme in the Market Place store. Money from certain products purchased in the shop has been going in to a kitty and will now be put towards providing activities and trips for the group.

Mr Sohal, whose nine-year-old son attends the group, said: "The group is run by volunteers for children in this area and they don't get any funding.

"For me, anything that stops children getting involved with anti-social behaviour and helps them get involved with the community is very important."

The store has also launched an appeal to raise funds for Crich girl Sara Shortland, who has been chosen to represent Britain in horseback gymnastics at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky next October.

Sara (16) needs to raise £15,000 to fly team horse Go For Gold to the event and £1,000 each for their own upkeep.

Mr Sohal will match whatever is raised in the shop from donations, out of his own pocket.

He added: "Sara is not big headed at all. She is working so hard to achieve something and everyone is really behind her. The collection boxes have gone down very well so far.

"A lot of people have said it is amazing that she is going to these games. People are very proud of her."

Sara, a pupil at Anthony Gell School, in Wirksworth, has been involved in vaulting since she was just six years old. She makes a 150-mile round trip to Northamptonshire twice a week for training at Moulton College and every fortnight she also attends fitness classes at the University of Nottingham.