CHARITIES across the region have joined commercial law firm Muckle LLP to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Community Fund.

Since it was set up in 2002, the fund has awarded £603,370 in grants to 662 charities and organisations across Northumberland, Cumbria, Tyne and Wear and Teesside.

As well as donating one per cent of its annual profits to the fund, Muckle also gives up to £140,000 worth of free legal advice to charities and community organisations every year.

This week, some of the local charities which have benefitted from the fund joined Muckle to celebrate the 20-year milestone.

Hugh Welch, Muckle LLP Senior Partner, said: "Twenty years is a significant milestone for the fund, and it was important to us that we used this opportunity to celebrate with some of the charities we’ve been lucky enough to work with over the years.

"Through the Community Fund, we have been able to build lasting relationships that have had an impact on not only the charities but also our firm and the people who work here.

"If you had told me 20 years ago when we started that we would be here today having awarded over half a million in funding, I’m not sure I would have believed you."