SIX community groups are "quids in" thanks to the generosity of Prestwich Carnival visitors and organisers.

Volunteers of the June celebration, which takes places in St Mary's Park, collected coins at the gate and sold programmes, donating part of the proceeds to charities and voluntary groups.

In a ceremony in the park last Thursday, carnival committee chairman Frank Shatliff presented £100 each to the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester, the Prestwich Mohawk Scouts, the Creative Living Centre, St James's Cornet Band and Prestwich Royal British Legion.

A further £500 was handed to the Phoenix Centre, which is based in the park.

Afterwards, Mr Shatliff said: "We are thrilled to be able to support these wonderful organisations, who give so much to their members and the people they support.

"On top of these donations, we organised a lunch for pensioners on the first day of this year's carnival, which cost us another £500 to put on.

"On Carnival weekend, people give so generously and, in turn, we are able to help these groups and plan for next year's carnival."

Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester co-chairman Heather Fletcher said: "This donation came as a wonderful surprise to us all.

"It is important in the current climate with the rise in anti-Semitism and hate crimes against Muslims that we continue our vital work connecting the Muslim and Jewish communities as it is ignorance which causes intolerance but familiarisation and mixing together which creates understanding and harmony."

The other co-chairman, Mohammed Amin, said: "This donation was received in the year we celebrated our 10th anniversary.

"It is wonderful recognition of the work we have done in the last decade bringing Muslims and Jews in Greater Manchester closer together."