Woman raises £31k in a year in charity collections

Margaret Kite has been described as one of Warwickshire's most devoted bucket collectors

A hospice has praised the "unwavering dedication and support" of a 91-year-old volunteer who has raised hundreds of thousands through bucket collections.

Margaret Kite has collected £31,366 in aid of The Myton Hospices in just the past year, during 218 collections in supermarkets and other locations.

The hospice said Ms Kite, from Kenilworth, was one of the area's "most devoted collection volunteers", whose fundraising spanned three decades.

A spokesperson described her "a superstar" and "true inspiration" to others.

Ms Kite visited Buckingham Palace for a garden party after being awarded a BEM in 2017

Ms Kite has previously worked for St John's Ambulance and also collected on behalf of Marie Curie and the Royal British Legion.

She was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2017 for her services to the local community.

Her fundraising efforts have also been commended with an award from local MP Matt Western.

Myton Hospice, which runs sites in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick, said it needed to raise £11m this year to continue providing services free of charge.

Writing on Facebook, a charity spokesperson thanked those who had contributed to Ms Kite's collections over the years

"Your support means the world to us, our patients, and their families," they added.

In response, social media users praised her as a "wonderful lady" and "a star".