A FORMER Newport mayor thanked those who helped to raise more than £21,000 in cash for her charity appeal.

Councillor Magaret Cornelious told a meeting of Newport council she was "absolutely thrilled" with the £21,207 raised by the 2011/12 Mayor's appeal. "Thanks to everyone," she said The cash will go to Newport mental health charity Growing Space and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Growing Space provides training in skills such as horticulture and woodwork to people with mental health issues.

Events to raise cash included a concert with Only Boys Aloud at the Christchurch Centre a few weeks ago.

Ms Cornelious said: "It's been a difficult year for fundraising for anybody. We've been very lucky."