DONATIONS in memory of a Bewdley man who died of cancer have added £500 to appeal coffers.

Mourners gave cash instead of flowers at the funeral of Frank Butters, 66 , who died of pancreatic cancer in September.

Mr Butters, of Woodlands Park, had planned to hold a fund-raising barbecue at his home in August for the appeal but it was cancelled when he became ill.

His widow, Caroline, wanted to continue his fund-raising efforts, so asked for donations instead of flowers at his funeral.

She said: “Frank was a big fund-raiser and collected thousands of pounds in his life for different organisations, so it seemed the obvious thing to do.

“He had a blood transfusion at the Millbrook and it’s our local hospital, so we thought it would be a good charity to support.”

She added that £1,750 in total was donated at the funeral. The rest of the cash has been given to St Richard’s Hospice, in Worcester and Wolverley Church.

“I’m pleased with the amount of money raised,” said the 57-year-old, “Frank was so well thought of.”