Competition to raise funds for children's ward

At fifty pence a go punters are invited to guess how many sweets are contained in a glass Carling football trophy jar '“ the winner, who guesses nearest to the correct number of sweets, will receive a case of Carling lager.

Deputy Manager Luke Ashenden said they chose Kipling, as it is a ward which he has first hand experience of, having suffered from bone Cancer eleven years ago.

He said: "I had my chemotherapy in London but spent a lot of time on Kipling ward either having blood tests or blood transfusions; we thought it only fitting that this ward was chosen to receive the proceeds from the competition."

The competition, open to anyone over the age of eighteen, is being run to coincide with the Carling cup final being held on Sunday 1st March and Luke said the winner will be announced during half time.

He said; "We hope to raise at least 100 and if we do, Ladbrokes charitable trust will match it and double the donation."

New manager at the Western road bookmakers, Jonathan Dodd said the competition will be just one of many fund raising initiative he has in mind and said:

" I would very much like to strengthen ties between Ladbrokes and the local community through our fund raising initiatives. Hopefully, if successful, it would help forge new links in the local vicinity, raising much needed funds for worthy causes."