VICTIMS of crime will benefit from a cash injection from bus bosses and drivers.

Employees and chiefs at First Manchester have boosted the coffers of the Bolton branch of independent charity Victim Support by £240.

The money was raised by donations from the workforce which were met pound-for-pound by the company, with employees nominating charities which should benefit.

The charity scheme was introduced in December 1999 and has so far pulled in £10,080 for 67 local causes in the region.

Bolton's Victim Support, one of the latest to receive a cash award, provides help and comfort to townsfolk who have suffered at the hands of criminals.

The organisation receives referrals from the police, local authority and social services.

Joint project managers Andree Wright and Lesley Daniels received the cheque from Fred Lacey, secretary of the First Manchester Charitable Contributions Committee.

Lesley Daniels said: "This is a wonderful gift which will be put into our Victim Fund.

"We use this fund to help victims experiencing problems in the immediate aftermath of a crime. This might include a senior citizen who has been robbed of a pension payment or someone who may need a little tie-over funding.

"We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who contributed towards this donation and assure them it will be put to good use." Andree Wright and Lesley Daniels accept the cheque from Fred Lacey, secretary of the First Manchester charitable contributions committee