WEST Devon estate agency made a generous donation to a farming charity helping farming families in need.

Mansbridge Balment held a successful Autumn Country and Equestrian Property Valuation Week across West Devon, Dartmoor, East and North Cornwall, with the company offering to make a donation for every valuation appointment to be given to the Farming Community Network, a national charity providing help and support for farming families in need.

A significant sum was raised for the charity as a result and Michael Jones, Mansbridge Balment's country and equestrian valuer and a rural chartered surveyor, was pleased to hand a cheque for the proceeds to Stephen Dennis, the Farming Community Network's regional director at the company's Okehampton office.

Michael said: 'We are so pleased to be able to support this important rural charity, which has an incredible network of local volunteers providing counselling and advice to the rural community.

'Having worked on farms and with many farming families over the years, I am all too familiar with the varied and difficult challenges they can sometimes face.

'It has been a pleasure to have had such a good response from so many owners of country properties.'

Stephen said: 'The Farming Community Network South West would like to thank the team at Mansbridge Balment and their clients for the generous donations they have given.

'FCN confidentially supports more farming families in the South West than any other region in the country and so we very much appreciate this recognition and financial support.'