Kind-hearted residents in Staffordshire have been thanked for their outstanding generosity towards a children's charity.

The praise has come from Graham Brogden, who is the newly appointed community appeals manager for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). He revealed during the last year more than £71,000 was raised by wellwishers in the county.

Mr Brodgen was particularly pleased with the efforts of volunteers in the Leek district and said he hoped other district committees would continue to try to follow suit.

He is hoping to raise money and public awareness for the NSPCC by persuading people to volunteer time and energy to organise fundraising events in their own community.

Mr Brogden said: "In my first couple of months with the NSPCC it has been a privilege for me to meet some wonderful supporters who have raised thousands of pounds over the years in and around the North Staffordshire area.

"Thanks to the generosity and ingenuity of these dedicated people the NSPCC is able to fund local services to children, which include projects such as Carole House in Newcastle."

An amazing £71,410.28 was raised in Staffordshire by local volunteer committees alone in the last financial year. He added: "The NSPCC needs to ensure more money is raised each year so as to continue helping the children that need us."

Therapeutic services are provided at Carole House to help children and families who have experienced sexual and other forms of abuse.

Between one and two children die following abuse every week in the UK. The society relies upon support from the community for around 86 per cent of its income.

Staff at the Leek-based Britannia Building Society adopted the NSPCC as their official charity last year.

They raised £100,000, and a further £44,000 for the Donna Louise Trust, a local children's hospice charity.

For more information about the NSPCC contact Mr Brogden on 0121 525 2792.