GENEROUS staff at Kidderminster tool store, Hire-It, have been doing their bit to help "fix it" for Stourport Hockey Club and Kidderminster and Stourport Athletic Club.

They donated £170 to the Back on Track appeal after staff decided not to buy Christmas cards for each other but, instead, give the money saved to a worthy Wyre Forest cause.

The decision fits in with the firm's strong associations with the Wyre Forest sporting scene, including the decision of its owners to make Hire-It the main sponsor of Kidderminster Harriers.

Fiona Davies, co-owner, said: "All our staff were really happy to donate the money to Back on Track. It's an important appeal that we could give a quick injection of cash towards."

Mrs Davies explained the store sponsored two hockey players - Marc Edwards and Laura Price - who had both "come up through the ranks at Stourport Hockey Club" and had played for England.

She added: "This club was very much in our minds as a result. It is also very important, generally, that children have somewhere to go where they can enjoy sport and be encouraged."

John Davies, her husband and co-owner, explained that the firm also supported the Harriers Football in the Community scheme by providing kit for 114 children so they could compete in junior leagues.

Mr Davies said he was "sports minded" himself and used to play football in the Kidderminster League as a youth. He added that the feeling of camaraderie created by competing in sport was crucial to young people's development.

He said: "Sport is vital to young people. It encourages children to form greater friendships and also creates team leaders out of them."