Heavy metal rockers Metallica have turned their Canadian tour into a charity mission - the band has donated over $28,000 (£17,500) to good causes across the country.

The Enter Sandman hitmakers donated a portion of the proceeds from Tuesday night's (03Nov09) sold-out concert in Ontario to help fill the shelves of Ottawa Food Bank - delivering a cheque for $8,200 (£5,125) to the agency.

According to The Montreal Gazette, members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo also donated $20,185 (£12,615) from sales of two sold-out shows in Montreal, Quebec on 19 and 20 September (09) to Sun Youth, a local community services organisation.

However, Sun Youth co-founder Sid Stevens admits the band asked to keep their donation under wraps until the group had left Montreal in order to avoid critics putting a negative spin on their gifts.

He says, "It's a beautiful gift. People sometimes look at groups of this nature in a derogatory or negative manner. But it's very interesting to see them donate in every city they visit." (c) WENN