THE Royal National Institution for the Blind (RNIB) said farewell to two long serving volunteers who have helped to raise almost £500,000.

After 15 years fundraising for the charity in the Dorset area, David and Wennona Taylor have decided to retire at the end of September to spend more time with their family.

The couple, who live in Sandford, near Wareham, started out by collecting boxes and donations in pubs and clubs in the Purbeck area and eventually branched out to cover the whole of Dorset.

They estimate that collections and fundraising events over the years have totalled almost £500,000.

Wennona, 58, said: "As it developed, the RNIB started distributing teddy bears that people could win in 'guess the name' competitions and as David was registered blind, I took on the role of his secretary by driving him around the county.

"David then took up a part- time post and we were doing store and street collections and house-to-house calls as well as organising bigger events such as the 'Blindfold Breakfast' and the 'It's a Knockout' competition.

"But it takes up our time for seven days a week, 52 weeks a year and as we are not getting any younger, we thought we would hand it over to someone else and spend a bit more time with each other and our grandchildren."

Presentations were made at the Hotel Rex in Weymouth for the most recent It's a Knockout winners, the Checkitout Crew.

The Bits and Pieces team also received a shield for the top fundraisers with over £900 gained in sponsorship.