THE Blackburn and Ribble Valley Local Committee have celebrated raising more than £3million for Cancer Research in the last 60 years.

The total amount raised has been made up of volunteers organising house collections, events, in memoriam donations, a weekly quiz night and their annual dinner at the Millstone at Mellor event which raises on average £7,000 each year.

Some volunteers are still supporting the committee now having started in 1959.

The group celebrated the milestone by being invited to visit the Cancer Research UK funded scientists based at Alderley Park in Macclesfield.

The group spent the day learning first hand where the money that they had raised had been spent.

Head of volunteer fundraising, Trudy Stammer, presented the committee with an engraved trophy to recognise their achievement.

Janet Bradley, the committee's secretary, said: "All our members are so chuffed.

"We feel very proud to know that our collective efforts and the generosity of our many supporters have contributed to the increase in survival rates and helped so many families faced with a cancer diagnosis.

"Seeing the work of the scientists at first hand was truly awe inspiring."

Cancer Research UK Lancashire senior local fundraising manager, Leah Mitchell, said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to the Blackburn and Ribble Valley Local Committee.

"We do not have many committees who have shown such outstanding dedication and have raised such an amazing amount of money for Cancer Research UK so we are truly very grateful for all that the volunteers do."

"Cancer Research UK receives no government funding and relies entirely on the generosity and dedication of supporters such as the Blackburn and Ribble Valley Committee."