Money raised by Sussex Police from the sale of lost and unclaimed property has gone to a good cause.

This week Police Community Support Officer Daryl Holter handed over a cheque for £500 to the Hastings and Rother branch of The Samaritans.

Founded by Chad Varah in 1953, The Samaritans is a registered charity that supports people in emotional distress, providing a listening ear for those struggling to cope or at risk of harming themselves.

The money that was handed over is part of the Police Property Act Fund (PPAF), and is made up of monies received by the police from the sale of unclaimed lost property and property confiscated by order of the courts and then sold.

The branch director at the local Samaritans branch, who has not been named for reasons of confidentiality, said: “We’d like to say a very big thank-you to Sussex Police for helping us in this way.

“We’ve used the cash to buy new chairs, which will be so beneficial to our volunteers who spend many hours sitting down just talking to callers.”

PCSO Holter said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to support the team at the Hastings and Rother Samaritans. The team provides a valuable service to the public, they offer emotional support through their listening scheme.

“They open their doors every day of the week to those who would like to come in and talk to a trained volunteer face to face.”

To find out more about the Police Property Act Fund and how you can apply for funding, please visit the Sussex Police by clicking on this link website.