A TIGHT race is being run between great causes in Thurrock as they seek to gain the maximum reward from a charitable donation from the Asda store at Tilbury.

The Asda Foundation's green token giving scheme moved online during the Covid pandemic.

Previously shoppers at the store were rewarded, depending on what they spent, with green tokens which they then placed in collecting boxes.

Three good cause were featured at any one time and at the end of a set period, the cause with the most votes will receives a £500 donation while second and third place each receive £200.

Because of Covid the scheme moved online when people are given the opportunity to vote, rather than placed a coin in a slot. Anyone is able to take part in the voting.

In the last scheme Thurrock Sea Cadets won the top prize, with Little Thurrock Primary School and First Little Thurrock brownies picking up the other prizes.

In the latest 'battle', which ends next week the race is between Stanford Blooming Marvels, Lady McAdden Breast Cancer and the Bluebells sheltered housing complex in Grays.

Stanford Blooming Marvels rely on donations from the community to enable them to purchase compost, bulbs, seeds etc. Also to cover the liability insurance they need to have to stay running. The funds from green token giving would help us to keep our community looking beautiful.

At Bluebells, the plan is for any monies raised to go in the fund to help support residents with no families.

Lady McAdden will use any cash it receives to provide one-to-one breast awareness consultations with specialist nurses and it will help ensure this free service continues be readily available for women of all ages.

At the moment the Blooming Marvels and Lady McAdden have been running neck and neck and, with just a few days left, supporters are hoping people will log on here to cast their vote.