The Guardian Christmas Appeal has raised £266,542 which, when Gift Aid is aided, totals around £320,000. The money was donated by readers of the Guardian, Guardian Weekly and its Guardian Unlimited website.

Practical Action will receive around £189,000 from the appeal, and the mental health charities selected for the appeal by New Philanthropy Capital, will receive around £131,000. Donors could choose which of the causes they wished their donation to benefit, or indeed split it equally between them.

The articles about the appeal and the beneficiary charities will remain on The Guardian's website and donations can still be made.

At the weekend, Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger thanked readers "for making another annual appeal such a success."

For more info clck here:  www.guardian.co.uk