GENEROUS drivers have delighted St Richard's Hospice fund-raisers after donating more than £7,000 already this year to help the work of the charity caring for people with cancer and other life-threatening illness.

The pennies and pounds have all been collected from drivers stopping off at the RoadChef Strensham service station on the M5 motorway near Worcester by a team of hospice volunteers.

The most recent collection raised £2,115, bringing the total from four weekend collections to £7,409.49.

Chrissy Styles, who leads the hospice Evesham fundraising volunteer group, and Elaine Lane, Bredon group organiser, were helped by a team of 60 collectors for each weekend.

Community fund-raiser Alison Weston said: "The drivers were incredibly generous and we are very grateful for all their donations.

"The team of volunteers also worked extremely hard and we would like to say a big thank you."

Building work has recently started on the new St Richard's Hospice near County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, and campaigners are working to raise the remaining £350,000 needed.