CHARITIES and groups have been given more than £21,000 by organisers of two Wyre Forest entertainment spectaculars.

Pantomime specialists the Monday Night Group are in the process of dishing out more than £16,000 to 91 district groups following a successful production of Dick Whittington in January. Monday Night Group stars Anna Fedden as Tommy and Jane Vale as Dick Whittington

And it has been announced last October's Music For You event - Wyre Forest's version of The Proms - generated £5,750, which has been handed out to regional and national charities including Kemp Hospice, Kidderminster Hospital League of Friends, Cancer Research UK and Acorns Hospice.

This year's effort by the Monday Night Group saw them break through the magical £200,000 barrier since becoming a registered charity in 1981 with their 37th annual pantomime.

The profits from the production, which ran for 12 performances at Stourport Civic Centre, will be handed to 91 district groups at a special presentation evening at the same venue tonight.

Those to benefit include Wyre Forest Stroke Club, Alexander Patterson School, Wilden Evergreen Club, the Night Out Club, Worcestershire Young Carers, and Mostyn Rangers FC under-eights.

Group secretary Cathy Carrier said: "We have so much fun putting on pantos and it is so satisfying to be able to help these groups within our community.

"Some of the smaller groups tell us they would be unable to survive without this support."

Music For You has raised more than £100,000, with last October's landmark 21st event hailed a "resounding success" by spokesman Richard Woodhead.

"We are always delighted when it comes to the donations stage of the event. It makes all the hard work of staging the shows seem worthwhile," he added.

"The original concept of Music For You was to raise money for charities, while putting on concerts which the public enjoy.

"We have tried to maintain that concept and clearly the public do enjoy them, because they keep coming back for more each year."

This year's concerts will be held on October 3 and 4.