A MYSTERY donor has given Hereford Jailbreak £10,000, even though there is no event this year.

The offer of a donation was made to Jailbreak after co-organisers Ron Davies and Grenville Smith had announced they were taking a break

But the unknown telephone caller was persistent, saying a benefactor who had followed the progress of Jailbreak over the years wanted to make a contribution from a trust fund.

The negotiations were conducted over the phone and Insp. Davies received the money by cheque, with no clue as to the donor.

He and Grenville Smith decided the unexpected cash should be shared and £2,000 has gone to Hereford and Worcester Air Ambulance, £2,000 to Acorns Childrens Hospice, £2,000 to Hereford Hospitals New Medical Equipment Appeal, £2,000 to Macmillan Cancer Relief, £1,000 to the British Heart Foundation and £1,000 to the Cancer Research Campaign.

Insp. Davies said many fund-raising events had been postponed because of foot and mouth and the money would help to fill the gap.

Tomorrow (Friday) the two men will be going to Buckingham Palace to receive their MBEs from the Queen.

The awards were announced in the New Year's Honours List in recognition of their work with Jailbreak over the years which has raised round £1,100,000 for local good causes.