TWO charities have benefited from a campaign to encourage people in Hartlepool to pay their council tax by direct debit.

Officers from Hartlepool Borough Council pledged to donate £5 to the nominated charities for every new direct debit arrangement set up before the end of June this year.

Hartlepool and District Hospice and Hartlepool Mencap each received £2,250 as a result.

Council revenues manager Paula Bass said: "We launched the campaign in March to encourage more council tax and business rate payers to pay by direct debit. This is our preferred method of payment, as it is more efficient to administer.

"There was a very good response and we are delighted that we have been able to raise so much money for two very deserving charities."