The chairman of Watford Borough Council, Shirena Counter, has organised a "100 Club" for businesses to help raise funds for her favoured charities.

Councillor Counter aims to get 100 local businesses each year to sign up for the innovative scheme, and donate £100 each to charity.

Those who join will be able to use the specially designed 100 Club logo on stationery, websites and marketing, to demonstrate their support for the chairman's charities.

The logo was chosen after dozens of students from secondary schools across Watford entered a competition to come up with the best design. The competition was won by Shanuka Sivakumar of Watford Girls Grammar School.

Councillor Counter said: "This year my theme as chairman is "Protecting our future" and my two chosen charities are Signpost, a counselling service for young people, and the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

"They are both very worthy organisations and I am sure local businesses will be keen to support."

Her year as chairman will end in May and donations made before June 1 will go to her charities while donations made after that will go to the new chairman’s charities.

Companies already signed up to the 100 Club are: Sword Drawn, of Rickmansworth Road, Watford; Rumball Sedgwick, of Lower High Street, Watford; Schuco, Challenge House, London; Clive’s Collectables, of Orbital Crescent, Watford; JPM Contract Cleaners Ltd, of Rickmansworth Road, Watford; Greenfleets Ltd, Akeman Business Park, Tring; and Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce of Colne Way, Watford.