FOREIGN Secretary Boris Johnson joined volunteers at a supermarket bucket collection to help raise awareness of the sterling work carried out by a Harrow charity.

Harrow Mencap, the learning disability charity, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and is running a special month of events to encourage local businesses and the public to engage in fundraising.

Mr Johnson happily stood with bucket collectors at an Aldi store where he lent his support to all their efforts.

He said: “I want to congratulate Harrow Mencap for all the work they do to support people with learning disability in the community.

“I am proud to have attended the fundraising bucket collection and I want to say thank you to the Aldi South Ruislip store team for supporting Harrow Mencap in this wonderful way.

“I hope they raise lots of money and awareness in their fundraising month.”

Jeremy Childs, Fundraising Manager from Harrow Mencap, said he was “delighted” to have had the Foreign Secretary at the bucket collection and praised the continued support of the Aldi store.

He added that, while July represents a month filled with special events, they can be organised throughout the year to help collect money for the charity.

“Events like these help raise vital funds, providing activities and support for people with learning disabilities and their families,” he explained.

Stephen Jones, who manages the Aldi in South Ruislip, reiterated the store’s positive relationship with Mencap and thanked customers for their “continued generosity”.