Whitfield Clay Shoot raises more than £35,000 for charity

Money from the Annual Whitfield Clay Shoot, held on the Whitfield Estate near Hexham, has helped rebuild a Victorian suspension bridge in Northumberland.

The "Wobbly Bridge" in Allens Bank, Hexham was washed away in floods in 2013 and the National Trust launched a campaign to raise £100,000 to re-build the bridge and surrounding footpaths. The £1,000 donation received from the Whitfield Annual Clay shoot helped achieve their target and is listed on a special plaque now affixed to the bridge.

Event organiser Stuart Maughan said; "Our donations cover a wide spectrum of community and conservation associations, for example furnishing a school playground with swings and slides, supporting hospitals with life-saving equipment, keeping parishioners warm in church with heated seats, and, of course, repairing timeless bridges.

"It's all thanks to the Whitfield Estate, our sponsors, those who donate raffle and auction prizes and our competitors, as without them we would not have this amazing event!"

The Whitfield Annual Clay Shoot, on the Whitfield Estate, started off many years ago with profits of about £50. Over the years the event has grown to be one of the largest clay shoots in the country, raising £35,250 for good causes last year, including the Countryside Alliance and the GWCT.

This year's Whitfield Clay Shoot, which boasts 10 different simulated game flushes, takes place on 9 and 10 May 2015 and there are still places for your team to take part.

Just go to http://www.whitfieldclays.co.uk/ to fill out the form.

For more information, contact Countryside Alliance head of media Charlotte Cooper on 0207 8409220 and 07500 834163 or email [email protected] or GWCT head of media, Morag Walker on 01425 651000 or [email protected]

• Image shows the Allens Bank suspension bridge