A SOUTHEND casino has been helping to make a difference to the lives of people in the developing world.

Elements and Fahrenheit restaurants, both based at the Rendezvous casino, near the Kursaal, have helped fund more than 8,000 trees to the Green Earth Appeal under its Food For Thought initiative.

The total number of trees funded by schemes run by casino parent company Caesars Entertainment UK, is nowmore than 100,000.

The Food For Thought initiative is a United Nations-backed environmental programme which allows restaurants to offset their carbon footprints by providing trees for the developing world.

Diners at the restaurants are offered the option of adding 99p to their bills – enough to pay for a single tree in Africa, Asia or South America.

Founder of the initiative Marvin Baker said: “Planting trees in the developing world provides a lifeline to those who live there.

“The 8,783 trees donated by Elements and Fahrenheit have transformed some of the world’s most destitute communities where survival is a daily battle.”