AN 85-year-old Poole woman is hanging up her collection tin having raised an incredible total of £100,000 in donations for the NSPCC charity.

Vanetta Westell has become a familiar sight at Rockley Holiday Park shop since 2012, fundraising year after year to help raise money to help keep children and young people safe.

She first started fundraising for the children’s charity 42 years ago after a visit from the NSPCC while she was on a local ladies committee.

Volunteering veteran Vanetta said: “When I first had a visit from the NSPCC and heard about the terrible things that happen to children, I began almost immediately fundraising for them.

“I’ve had a presence at the Rockley Holiday Park for more than eight years and it all began when the Olympic torch passed through Poole in 2012. Volunteers were contacted and told any one of us could go down to a number of shops that day to fundraise there.

“Of course, everyone else wanted to go out and see the torch passing, but I remained and went down to the shop at Rockley to ask if they were happy for me to be there to fundraise.”

Totting up the totals, Vanetta has gone on to raise £25,574 from her time in Rockley Park — enough to answer over six thousand calls for help to the NSPCC’s Childline service.

NSPCC supporter fundraising manager Caroline Morgan said: “Vanetta's loyalty and commitment to improving the lives of children over 42 years of volunteering is truly inspirational.

“From house-to-house collections in all weathers to standing in supermarkets collecting change, over 42 years Vanetta has raised almost £100,000 for the NSPCC and Childline.”

In 2014, Vanetta became the recipient of a British Empire Medal in recognition of her efforts.