Burton Albion Football Club has given the departing mayor of East Staffordshire £500 to donate to Mencap, his chosen charity during his year in office.

Councillor Simon Gaskin has just completed his year's term in office as mayor of the borough and will now step aside as Councillor Chris Smith takes up the role for the coming year.

Throughout his year, Councillor Gaskin has raised more than £11,000 for Mencap, which works to support people with learning disabilities and their families.

He said: "We're very pleased that Burton Albion Football Club has donated £500 to Mencap. It's very kind of the club to do that. Mencap are one of the Mayor's charities for this year and we've made more than £11,000 for them.

"Those extra monies raised this year will go to very good causes and we're very proud that Burton Albion have been able to support us in doing so."

Councillor Simon Gaskin, Christine Kelly, from Burton MenCap, chairman of Burton Albion, Ben Robinson and John Jackson from the club's community trust

In a ceremony held last week, leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, Richard Grosvenor thanked the outgoing Mayor for his work throughout the year and jokingly presented the Derby County supporter with a Burton Albion shirt.

Brewers chairman Ben Robinson said: "We are delighted to be able to support one of the Mayor's chosen charities as he ends his term in office.

"The football club and its charity, Burton Albion Community Trust, has always put supporting the community at the heart of what it does, and we are pleased to be able to make this donation which we know will be put to good use by Mencap."

The money donated by the club has been given to the Burton branch of Mencap, which works with people in and around the town who need support with learning disabilities.

Simon Gaskin pictured with his wife Julie Gaskin

Christine Kelly, chairman of Burton Mencap, said: "We have received a very generous donation today from Burton Albion.

"It's wonderful news and we are really, really pleased and it means a lot to Burton Mencap.

"We are just a very small group of people who are volunteers and all the money that comes to us, either from donations or fund-raising, goes directly to people in Burton with a learning disability."