A CHARITY which provides a vital life-saving service would like to thank the community for filling its buckets with money.

Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service transports medical supplies including blood to hospitals in Wiltshire and further afield, completely free of charge.

Fundraisers from the charity collected money from shoppers in Asda, Melksham, on Saturday and raised £461, before returning on Sunday to raise a further £409, making a total of £870.

Charity spokesman Caroline Lincoln said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who showed their support on Saturday, it’s hugely appreciated.”

The charity is run entirely by volunteers, including the people who take requests from the hospitals over the phone, the riders who transport the supplies, the people who service the bikes and the fundraisers who stand outside supermarkets with buckets, so donations are vital to help it continue running.