AN AYR garden centre has helped a UK wide effort to raise a huge sum of money to help teenagers battling cancer.

Dobbies Garden Centre announced last week that it had raised over £549,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust .

Staff in the Ayr store took part in several fundraising events and helped raise the cash through donations from carrier bag purchases, individual store led activity nationwide charity fundraising events and even members from Dobbies Central Support Office taking part in the three Peaks Challenge.

It comes as the Ayr store helped Prestwick Academy pupils raise £10,863.18 after two youngsters at the school were diagnosed with cancer in the same year.

Dobbies also donated a unique plant to the school called ‘Teen Spirit’ in aid to the charity.

Graeme Jenkins, Chief Executive at Dobbies Garden Centres said: “We take great pride in our ongoing partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust and this achievement of raising over £500k for the charity is something truly special for everyone at Dobbies.

Christine Jason, Head of Regional Fundraising in the North for Teenage Cancer Trust said: “Every day, seven young people aged 13-24 are diagnosed with cancer.

“ Teenage Cancer Trust’s specialist nurses, hospital wards and support teams work hard to help young people and their families cope with the huge impact that a cancer diagnosis and treatment has on their lives. But none of this work would be possible without our wonderful supporters.”