A CHARITY for people with diabetes is celebrating after getting a "marvellous" cash boost from a York pub.

Jack Merry, the landlord of the Ackhorne in St Martin's Lane, handed over a total of £534.88, raised mainly through pub quizzes, to Julie Thomas, chairwoman of the York branch of Diabetes UK.

Mr Merry said: "I'm a diabetic myself, and we have quite a few customers in here who are diabetic - there are more than you would think. It's taken off quite well."

Mrs Thomas was delighted with the donation, made during Diabetes Week.

She said: "It's marvellous. We have collected £467 in street collections in York, and we have started on envelopes.

"We are hoping to raise about £700 to £800, and this will be added to that. All the money will go to research."

Diabetes UK is the new name of the British Diabetic Association, the change to a shorter title being intended to help define the charity's role in helping people with the condition.

The new symbol of the hummingbird depicts the balance and control which is vital for people who have to regulate their blood sugar levels.

Diabetes UK unites people with diabetes, their families, volunteers and health care professionals within one organisation. The new identity is meant to increase awareness of diabetes and present the organisation as up-to-date, authoritative, and clearly focused.

Mrs Thomas said they believed there were a million people in the UK who didn't know they had diabetes.

Possible symptoms include persistent tiredness, passing large amounts of urine at night, a dry mouth and constant thirst and blurred vision.

Anyone who wants more information about Diabetes UK can contact Mrs Thomas at 4 Hazelmere Court, Huntington, YO32 9YN, or telephone 01904 763500.

picture- Jack Merry, the landlord of the Ackhorne pub, York, hands over £534.88 to Julie Thomas, chairwoman of the York branch of Diabetes UK