A CALDICOT supermarket has presented a cheque for more than £12,000 to a group that encourages the planting of bee-friendly flowers.

The £12,014 raised by Waitrose for Bee Friendly Monmouthshire came from the sale of plastic carrier bags in its stores around Wales where they are charged 5p each.

It was the second year in a row that the Caldicot branch has successfully nominated a local good cause to benefit.

Bee Friendly Monmouthshire's chairman, Alan Michie, said: "We encourage the planting of wildflowers to help pollinators such as bees.

"This donation will help us educate children and give them the chance to run things in their own schools.

"It will also help us to attend shows and other events to demonstrate what can be done and to run a competition to encourage more people to support the organisation."

The donation to Bee Friendly Monmouthshire was part of the £36,000 raised by carrier bag sales in Waitrose stores in Wales last year.

Staff at the seven Waitrose branches in Wales nominate charities and the 'winners' are selected by a committee at the supermarket's headquarters in Bracknell, Berkshire.

Since the Caldicot store opened in June 2009 it has donated £100,000 to local good causes through its 'green token' scheme, carrier bag charges and stock donations.

It is hoped that Waitrose 'partners' will spend a day volunteering with Bee Friendly Monmouthshire later this year.