Tesco supermarket has chosen its charity of the year and launched its fundraising drive with the help of two local youngsters.

Velvet Bolingbroke, 11, from Weston- super-Mare, and Simon Davies, 18, from Bristol, helped get its Muscular Dystrophy Campaign off to a flying start.

The pair, who were both born with a severe form of muscular dystrophy, attended the launch at the Bristol East Extra store with Lord Mayor Christopher Davies.

Over the coming year, Tesco's 300,000 staff and their customers aim to raise £3million towards the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

The funds will help to improve the quality of life of many children and their families across the UK.

Velvet said: "It's really great that Tesco is helping us and other kids with muscular dystrophy to get new equipment that will allow us to do more things.

"I hope that Tesco staff in this area can raise as much money as possible to buy the equipment that we need."

Store manager Nick Allen said: "Meeting Velvet and Simon today has really inspired us to start planning different ways to raise money."

Pictured at the launch, from left, Khurm Arshad, Velvet Bolingbroke, Mayor Christopher Davies, store manager Nick Allen, Simon Davies and Muscular Dystrophy Campaign regional fundraising manager Christine Hartley.