A FORMER newsagent celebrated his 80th birthday - and raised more than £1,000 for charity. 

Joe Wardman's party at Barrow Cricket Club was well attended and in the end raised £1,400 for two local charities, which was split £700 each way. 

Joe owned a newsagent on Ramsden Street until he retired. 

READ MORE: Joe Wardman raises £1000 for MND and St Mary's Hospice 

Furness Motor Neurone Disease Association received money in memory of his sister-in-law Jean who suffered from the debilitating illness for eight years.

The Mail: Joe Wardman giving money to the Furness Motor Neurone Disease AssociationJoe Wardman giving money to the Furness Motor Neurone Disease Association (Image: Joe Wardman)

The second charity was St Mary's Hospice, in memory of three members of his family who benefitted from their care. 

On Wednesday Joe handed over a cheque for £700 to each charity.

Joe said: “I am very grateful for the generosity of all those who donated, it makes me feel very humble.  Thank you all very much.  It gives me great pleasure to hand over these cheques to two very worthy causes.  As I have said before, I think the people of Barrow are amazing.”

The Mail: Joe Wardman with a cheque for St Mary's hospiceJoe Wardman with a cheque for St Mary's hospice (Image: Joe Wardman)

Joe mostly made a name for himself as the owner of the newsagents on Ramsden Street, which he ran for 52 years, 'not including training,' until he retired in 2011. 

He is also chair of the governors for Greengate Junior School and has been involved in the school for 37 years. 

Not content with just being a member of the board, Joe helps out on the playground during break times and cuts the grass. He is so well-liked that every child in the school drew a picture of him to go into an A3-sized book for his birthday.

The Mail: Joe Wardman playing a drum at his birthday partyJoe Wardman playing a drum at his birthday party (Image: Joe Wardman)

Described by the participants as the 'perfect host', Joe's birthday party was held at Barrow Cricket Club. It included a bouncy castle for the children, a bowling match, cricket, music, a performance by Harrison Holmes, and Joe himself dressed as a Scotch Guard and playing a big drum.

Joe said: "The day was amazing. The main thing was that all my friends came."

This included customers of the newsagents, people from the school, and the cricket club.