THE business of murder has proved an outstanding success for Leigh company The DeadEnders.

They have just completed the first half of their 2000 season with whodunnits in Eccles, Ulverston, Wigan and Blackley.

And charities have been the big winners.

Our picture shows Brian Halliwell receiving a cheque for £300 for Wigan Hospice following The DeadEnders' production of "Till Murder Do Us Part" at the Quality Hotel.

Katherine Roberts, Yvonne Parkinson and Margaret Hall made the presentation.

Recent cheques totalling more than £300 have also gone out to Macmillan Nurses, the RNLI and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Fred Barnes, who leads the murder/mystery company, said: "It's been great fun and a lot of good causes have been rewarded."