WELLINGTON Majorettes have received a £1,000 boost ahead of a trip to represent the town in Portugal next month.

The troupe, which was formed more than 40 years ago, will perform in the annual carnival in Wellington’s twin town of Torres Vedras.

But the £3,000 cost of the trip was putting a strain on the group’s finances and so Wellington Mayor Cllr Marcus Barr pledged to fund-raise to help out.

Cllr Barr held a two-week jumble sale in the town council’s Pop Up Shop, in Fore Street, which ended on Saturday (January 13), to raise money for the majorettes and also for Rockwell Green Primary School.

He set a target of bringing in £1,000 from the jumble sale which would double the amount he had already raised through his mayor’s charity fund.

And he passed the target on his final day, reaching a total of £1,015 from his two-week effort.

On Sunday, Cllr Barr handed over the cash to majorettes trustee Louise Brierley accompanied by some of the 70 members of the troupe, who range from four to 17 years in age.

He will make a separate £1,000 presentation to Rockwell Green School, which will use the money to replace children’s play equipment which has become worn out.

Ms Brierley said: “We are so grateful to the mayor for his tremendous support for us, it is very much appreciated.”

Cllr Barr said: “The majorettes are going to officially represent Wellington at the carnival in Torres Vedras where thousands of people will be watching them and will see that they are from their twin town in England.

“I want to see Wellington strengthening our connections with all of our twin towns and so I firmly believe the council should be doing our bit to help fund anybody like the majorettes who are representing us abroad.

“I hope they have a brilliant time in Portugal and I look forward to hearing about their success over there.”