HASLEMERE Hogs charity project really did bring home the bacon, raising an “incredible” £34,490 for good causes as well as the town profile.

Businesses, schools, organisations and celebrities jumped at the opportunity to sponsor and decorate their very own life-sized fibreglass pigs from a limited edition of 60 and raise money for previous town mayor Sahran Abeysundara’s four nominated charities.

The project, masterminded by former Haslemere Mayor Brian Howard and his daughter Melissa King, proved to be such a success it netted the largest sum the town has ever collected. Swelled by an additional £8,040 raised by Sahran, himself, during his mayoral year, the final sum of £42,531 has benefited an additional five good causes.

Supporters celebrated the project’s success last Wednesday night at Haslewey Community Centre, when Sahran and his mayoral consort Howard Bicknell presented the cheques after Haslemere Community Choir had raised the roof with a special performance.

The four nominated charities were:–

Positive Action supporting families and individuals in Surrey and Hampshire affected by HIV – £5,540

Kaleidoscope Trust upholding the rights of for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people – internationally £7,500

Action Medical Research for Children £7,500 and

The Haslemere Penny Ha’Penny Trust, supporting disadvantaged local youngsters – £11,187.

Additional beneficiaries were: A Place to Be Wey Centre-based youth club, received £500; Haslewey Community Centre, now also proving Meals on Wheels, received £700; Stepping Stones School, Hindhead, for pupils with special educational needs, received £1,360; Help for Heroes received £2,000 and Haslemere’s Hunter Centre for Alzheimer sufferers and their carers, received £2,250.

Sahran said: “Haslemere’s much-loved hogs turned into sacks of gold. Brian’s incredible idea raised the most we as a town have ever collected for designated charities. Not only for my four nominated charities, but others as well.”

Buoyed by the success of the Hogs, Brian announced his next “hare-raising” charity idea in aid of the town.

His limited edition of 60 three-foot high fibreglass hares will leap into action in 2018 – and the hope is they will set a new record for town giving.