A RACING stables open day, which attracted a record 7,000 visitors, raised £20,000 for charities.

Proceeds of the annual event at Middleham on Good Friday were presented by Richmond MP and Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague to organisations yesterday, at the Middleham Key Centre.

Beneficiaries included the Key Centre, Racing Welfare, Middleham Sports Association, Middleham Over 60s Luncheon Club, Children Today, Middleham Town Council community fund, Middleham Primary School, Middleham under-fives playgroup, St Alkelda's Church, Middleham, Herriot Hospice Homecare, Wensleydale School parent-teacher association, Leyburn band, Richmond and Catterick Furniture Store and the Middleham Community Wellbeing Group.

The event, sponsored by The Northern Echo, gave people the chance to visit some of England's top racing stables and meet winners, trainers and stable hands. It was opened by TV personality Kathryn Apanowicz, partner of the late Richard Whiteley, and Mr Hague. Billy Hartman - Terry Woods in TV soap Emmerdale - was a special guest.

Mr Hague said: "Middleham is a tremendous success story and fully deserves its reputation as the finest racing centre in the North of England."

Tim Burner, organiser of the open day, said: "The £20,000 raised represents a tremendous achievement on the part of so many people, including the trainers, the loyal staff at the Key Centre and last, but not least, the thousands of people who flocked to our town."

James Bethell, of Middleham Trainers' Association, said: "The open event has proved more popular than ever and has raised a tremendous amount of money for charity."