A Cumbrian company which encouraged its staff to give up chocolate during March for charity has announced which worthwhile causes will benefit.

H&H Group based at Borderway Mart at Rosehill in Carlisle, has decided the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and the British Heart Foundation are its chosen charities for 2018.

Its first fundraising initiative was Dechox for March – a British Heart Foundation nationwide challenge.

During the month Brian Richardson, H&H Group chief executive, other members of group services and staff from H&H Insurance Brokers gave up chocolate.

Mr Richardson said: “This year we have chosen RABI and the British Heart Foundation because they are representative and supportive of the issues that have affected and continue to effect many of the people who work within the H&H Group and our companies."

Georgina Lamb, Regional Manager North West for RABI, said she was grateful they had been selected as H&H Group’s charity of the year.

She said: “As RABI is a completely confidential charity, being the H&H chosen charity for 2018 gives us the opportunity to fly the flag from both a beneficiary and a fundraising point of view.

“Importantly it will also help to highlight what we do to those people who may need the support of RABI either immediately or in the future.

“There is a natural synergy between the two organisations.

"We have worked with all their auction marts for many years and I know many of the people who attend the events will have supported us previously.”

Over the course of the year H&H staff will take part in events including the Hadrian’s Wall Hike, H&H Farmhouse Bake Off, Total Warrior, The Great North Run, a quiz night and Wear your Wellies to Work Day.

Last year across the companies a total of £10,000 was raised, which was in support of Macmillan Cancer Support and Young Minds.