Some early Christmas presents have arrived for five Norfolk and Waveney charities after our readers claimed thousands of pounds for their preferred good cause.

The Readers Choice Cash for Charity campaign was launched in late October and over the course of four weeks, tokens could be collected from the Eastern Daily Press, Norwich Evening News and other local Newsquest papers.

Almost 5,000 tokens were collected and sent in total as 10 charities from Norfolk and Suffolk competed for their share of a £16,000 prize pot, from a £128,000 national total provided by Newsquest Media Group’s parent company Gannet this year.

Receiving 10pc of the total tokens would claim the same amount of the £16,000 and top of the table was Dereham Meeting Point, who will receive £3,772 towards their plans to revamp its catering facilities – after attracting 23.6pc of the tokens submitted.

North Walsham Play will receive £2,270 towards its intention to improve play equipment in the town’s Memorial Park and Age UK Norwich has earned £1,544 towards helping people in crisis.

1st Attleborough Scouts Group has picked up £1,307 towards their project for an outside planter and patio so that members of the group can grow their own vegetables.

While Lowestoft group Topcats, which provides opportunities for youngsters with additional needs, will receive £642 towards the creation of an arts and crafts room – with a further five Suffolk charities receiving the remainder of the money, as voted for by readers of the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star.

Newsquest’s regional editor Richard Porritt said: “We’re so pleased to see our readers supporting their chosen charity and helping to provide them with an early Christmas present.

“Newsquest has given away hundreds of thousands of pounds to good causes in recent years and was keen to involve our news brands in Norfolk and Suffolk after acquiring Archant earlier this year.

“To see almost 5,000 tokens returned is a brilliant response from our readers, so thanks to all who bought a copy of their local paper to get involved.”

The five Suffolk groups also in the running were the Broomhill Trust (receiving £1,953), GoStart Community Transport (£1,349), Jetty Lane CIO (£1,138), Footsteps Walking With You (£1,026) and Winston’s Wheels (£994).