TOWNSPEOPLE have chosen a charity which helps people come to terms with bereavement, as the winner of a £500 community grant.

Organised by the Riverside Shopping Centre in Erith town centre, a shortlist of five local charities was chosen by a panel of judges, with the final decision left to the public.

More than 200 people cast their vote for their favoured charity from finalists Howbury Friends, Cruse Bereavement Care, Bexley Alzheimer’s Society, Step Up Club and Larner Road Residents’ Association.

Cruse topped the vote and will use the £500 to set up group sessions and buy specialist literature and other materials to help in the sessions.

Bexley Cruse chairman, Derek Dobson said: “All our counsellors give their time and work freely to ease the pain of bereavement, irrespective of an individual's age, gender, colour or faith.

“Thank you so much on behalf of our counsellors and the bereaved of Bexley borough.”

Centre manager Barry Owen said: “Every charity that applied for the grant runs a fantastic service for the community, but it was only fair to let the public decide the winner as they are the people that live at the heart of the borough.”