FILM critic and radio presenter Paul Ross leant a hand to the battle to beat blood cancer.

Mr Ross joined fundraisers in Marlow High Street to raise cash for the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Fund.

The money, collected on October 1, has now all been tallied and came to £887.06.

Jenny Miles, the charity's Marlow and District Branch spokesman, said: “Considering the current economic climate and the fact that this year we lost part of our prime Waitrose site, with the help of our loyal band of collectors, a few new recruits, and our celebrity supporter Paul Ross, we were thrilled to raise this total.

“Thank you to all collectors and donors.”

Collectors were joined by Mr Ross, who used to live close by in Bisham.

The brother of chat show host Jonathan Ross and other fundraisers unexpectedly found themselves sweltering in the unseasonally hot conditions on the day.

Mrs Miles joked: “We have a small supply of Leukaemia umbrellas which we pass around during our usual winter collections, but didn’t have the forethought to pass them out as parasols.”