Tesco has raised £7.2m for Clic Sargent as part of its 2010 charity of the year partnership, smashing the partnership target by more than £2m.

The £7.2m was raised between March 2010 and February 2011, and beats the supermarket’s previous fundraising record of £6.6m during its 14-month partnership with Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Staff and customer fundraising combined with initiatives such as a TV ad campaign voiced by Dawn French to encourage shoppers to buy products which donate proceeds to Clic Sargent were used in raising the money.

Clic Sargent will use the money to fund specialist nurses at its child cancer centres around the country.

David Reid, chair of Tesco, said: “We are grateful to every single customer, supplier and staff member who contributed to this vital cause.”