Delivery giant TNT has celebrated 30 years in business by raising a Christmas-cracking £25,000 in 30 days for hundreds of charities across the region.

TNT employees decided to bring an extra Christmas treat to mark the company's 30 years in business by embarking on a month-long fund-raising extravaganza. Called the '30-30-30' challenge, staff were encouraged to use up to 30 ideas for their fund-raising efforts, and choose one of the UK's top 30 charities - or opt for one of their own.

More than 50 TNT Express Services depots and offices combined their efforts as part of the '30-30-30' challenge with a bewildering array of fund-raising activities from sky dives, fancy dress days, 'wife swaps', cake baking, noodle-eating, managers in stocks, auctions to raffles, car valeting and male leg waxing.

Tom Bell, Managing Director, TNT Express UK, said: "What a fantastic effort from the team. Everyone was really enthused by the 30-30-30 challenge as it was a way of celebrating our 30 years in business by giving something back to the local community. It was great to see staff conjuring up some cracking fund-raising events to raise money.

"Giving employees the opportunity to donate cash to a charity of their choice really captured their imagination - giving money to a cause close to your heart always gets a great response. We do take our corporate social responsibilities very seriously and this is an ideal way to help those most in need.

"I think one of the best ways to celebrate 30 years in business was to reach out to the communities we serve. Our '30-30-30' initiative has been such an outstanding success because our people would rather give something back, rather than take a pat on the back.

"It's this attitude that sets us apart from our competitors."

TNT's humble origins in the UK started in 1978 - the then Australian-owned company expanded into the UK with the acquisition of Lancashire-based Inter Counties Express, which at the time had 500 employees and a turnover of £5m. In 2008, TNT employs almost 12,000 staff and generates revenues in excess of £840m.

Some of the charities to benefit from TNT's '30-30-30' initiative include: British Heart Foundation; Shelter; Breast Cancer Care; Blue Cross; RNIB; Cancer Research; NSPCC: Macmillan Cancer Support ; Help for Heroes; Help The Aged; Motor Neurone Disease and the RSPCA.