CASH thrown into a shopping centre’s fountains will benefit three charities.

The Altrincham Branch of the Guide Dog Association, the Alzheimer’s Society in the Northwest and the Trafford-based Once Upon a Smile will split around £50,000 raised by customers throwing coins in the intu Trafford Centre’s fountains.

The charities will receive the donations after they were announced as the centre’s charities of the year.

Community development manager Sarah Pimlott said: “Our customers continue to be so generous when it comes to donating their coins to our fountains, it’s quite incredible.

“We can collect more than £50,000 per year, so that can make an enormous difference.”

Diane Moore, community fundraiser from Guide Dogs, said: “It’s a sad fact that thousands of people who are blind or particularly sighted never leave home alone, and it’s only through the kind support of the general public that we’re able to continue our life changing work.”

Ray Nash, from Alzheimer’s Society, said the money would be used to support services for people affected by dementia in the Trafford area.

He added: “We got off to a great start by cleaning and counting almost £2,000 during our first session.”

Daniel Jillings, co-founder of Once Upon a Smile, supporting families struggling with a bereavement, said: “With the help of the Fountain Fund this will help us reach out to many more families.”