A Kenilworth councillor has said she is "delighted" to confirm a major local charity is set to finally submit its accounts, over three months after the deadline.

The William Edwards Educational Charity (WEEC) is 127 days behind schedule in sending its accounts and annual statement to the Charity Commission.

The charity previously blamed the delay on being let down by its previous auditors.

Cllr Kate Dickson - a trustee of the charity appointed by Kenilworth Town Council - shared an update to councillors last night (September 3).

She said: "I am delighted to stand here and say that earlier today I was at a trustees meeting for the William Edwards Educational Charity at which we were presented with the draft accounts.

"They need to go back to the auditors for final approval but we do have those in place.

"Also to reassure members and the public, work is to start on preparing the next accounts."

The charity dates back over 300 years and exists to give grants to Kenilworth people under the age of 25 to cover anything from uniforms and books to undergraduate degree expenses and postgraduate bursaries.

The charity donated more than £300,000 to schools last year and regularly aids more than 200 people each year with individual grants.

WEEC has three trustees nominated by Kenilworth Town Council to help oversee it.

At a previous council meeting Cllr Richard Dickson said missing the deadline was a "considerable embarrassment" to the charity which has funds in the region of £10 million.

In a statement to Nub News, charity clerk, John Hathaway, explained the hold up for WEEC.

"The turnover of the charity requires that the accounts should not only be prepared but more importantly audited," he said.

"The auditors who acted for the charity for a number of years advised the trustees that as a practice they would no longer be undertaking audits for charities.

"As a result some time was spent, quite rightly and prudently, by the trustees seeking and appointing new auditors who specialise in charity work.

"Several meetings have taken place over the last two months with the newly appointed auditors and no adverse matters have been revealed and it is anticipated the return and audited accounts will be filed shortly with the Charity Commission.

"The trustees of the charity and indeed the Charity Commission are both fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate delay and as recommended by the Charity Commission, the report of the trustees, contained within the accounts, will contain a reference to the appointing of new auditors and the resulting difficulties experienced."

This is not the first time WEEC has missed the deadline for filing its accounts.

Last year it was one day late, and in 2022 was 58 days late in filing them.

WEEC was formed following the death of notable surgeon Dr William Edwards in 1723.

Born in 1659, Edwards lived in Kenilworth, working as a surgeon and bone setter.