SUPERMARKET staff not only raised cash for Operation Covert but also answered the age old question: how many steps do seven Sainsbury's employees take during a days work on Christmas Eve?

Fellow employees had to guess the amount, which finally came in at a whopping 77,000 between 8.30am and 5.30pm, and the winner was given a bottle of their choice by the store, in Crossley Park, Kidderminster.

Staff used a pedometer, a device which is attached to the belt to measure steps taken, and the winner estimated a total of 78,000 steps. Sponsorship money from the challenge came in at more than £500.

One of the ladies who took on the challenge, customer service assistant Lesley Hicks, said: "We had from the extreme to the ridiculous, from a very few steps to quite a few. The highest one we got was 101,000 and the lowest was 3,000."

Mrs Hicks, a Beaver leader at Kidderminster's KD15 Scout group, added: "A lot of the people who work at Sainsbury's, their children have all been part of different Scout groups at one time or another so we thought it was a good opportunity."

It might sound like a lot, but 77,000 was easy work compared to the height of the Christmas rush, she said.

"It wasn't as busy as we thought Christmas Eve was going to be, if it had been done the day before, on the Thursday, I don't know how many steps we would have taken."

Tories pledge further support

DISTRICT Conservatives have continued to show their support for our appeal.

Following on from a recent £200 donation, Wyre Forest Conservative Association has pledged a further £246 to Operation Covert.

The cash was collected at the association's annual dinner in November and from a whip-round at its Christmas dinner.

Mark Garnier, who is tipped to stand for the Tories at the expected general election in May, said: "It is something we believe in so anything we can do to help.

"We will try and keep it coming, it is easy for us to pass round the hat and pick up a bit of extra money for a worthwhile cause."

Country dancers show way

MEMBERS of a Scottish country dancing club celebrated Hogmanay with a donation to Operation Covert.

Wyre Forest Scottish Country Dance club pledged the money because of the effect Scouting had on members lives, said treasurer Gillian Wire.

She said: "Our members raised this money by giving donations instead of sending each other Christmas cards.

"We have supported local charities in this way for the past three years.

"This year we chose Operation Covert as many of us either have been Scouts ourselves or our children or grand-children have been in the Scouts."