A team of shop workers in Mere, Wiltshire, have used the money they raised by dieting to make up a hamper full of goodies for a raffle.

Not only have the group succeeding in losing a few pounds following the Christmas period, but they have also been able to donate £270 to Canine Partners, a registered charity that helps to give people with disabilities greater independence through owning a pet, the Salisbury Journal reports.

The store assistants initially fundraised £70 by each paying 20p a week to be weighed and incurred a fine if it was revealed they had put on a few pounds.

Following this, they added to their collection pot by using the £70 to make up a hamper, which they entered into a raffle and sold tickets for.

Member of the group Janet Avery explained: "At the beginning of 2013, six of us decided that we had eaten too many mince pies and needed to go on a diet."

A ten-year-old girl from Bolton also recently raffled a pamper hamper consisting of luxury items in order to raise money for cancer sufferers.