CYNTHIA Finn, lady captain of the Grove Ladies Golf Club, Leominster, presented Bridget Halpern of Herefordshire Samaritans a donation of £2645.

This was further to monies raised earlier in the year and made a grand total of over £7,000.

The lady captain had chosen Herefordshire Samaritans as her charity for 2016 and this exceptional total was achieved through hard work organising a golf day, a ladies golf and coffee morning, a monthly bonus ball and regular raffles.

Joanna Emerson, Samaritans branch director said: "We are particularly grateful for this generous donation. Last year, our 80 volunteers - we have no paid staff - responded to over 30,000 phone calls, e-mails or texts – a 54% increase on the previous year. However, we are totally dependent on public support to maintain our service, as we do not receive any government grants."

Samaritans offers anyone going through difficult times in their lives a confidential and non-judgemental listening ear at any time day or night. The cost though of running the branch is now £60,000 a year – that's £2 a call to 116123, the freecall number. Volunteers are the backbone of the service.

Anyone who might be interested in becoming a volunteer can ring 01432 269942 or e-mail volunteer@herefordshire-samaritans.org for information on how they could join a well-trained and supported team.