SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: RETURNING holidaymakers may feel the post-summer blues but now they can cheer themselves up by helping charity.

Jet setters are being asked to save their spare foreign coins to help the Swindon Cancer Appeal.

Foreign notes can be exchanged at banks and bureau de changes, but coins cannot.

However charities are able to cash in on the leftover change.

Appeal manager Graziella Campisano, 26, said: "It's great that we are able to exchange the coins and make money for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

"The coins are useless for people once they are home but they are extremely valuable to us.

"It's another easy way to help us reach our target of £600,000."

Andrew Basson, managing director of Ambrose House Conference and Business Centre, where the appeal office is based, was only too pleased to hand over his foreign currency.

He said: "I tend to go away on business quite a lot during the year and I always come back with lots of foreign coins.

"They usually end up as clutter in a drawer. I am happy that the money will go to Macmillan Cancer Relief instead of gathering dust.

"It's actually really interesting to see how much all those little piles add up to.

"I would urge anyone who has any left over currency or even any old francs, pesetas, marks, liras, guilders and escudos, to drop it into the appeal office," he said.

Mr Basson, of West Swindon, said: "It is amazing how much of a difference it will make. As they say every penny counts."

Meanwhile, coins of a different kind were busily being counted. Macmillan collection boxes are placed in shops and businesses around the town, and regularly need emptying.

Swift Shop, in Beechcroft Road, in Stratton, collected £22, Earle's Newsagents, in Newport Street, Old Town, raised £18, while Key Stores, in Clive Parade, Pinehurst collected £123, including a cheque for £100.

Cuddly bean-filled bunny and bear toys are still available from the appeal office, in Milton Road.

The toys cost £5 each, or add 42p for postage and packing if you would like one to be sent.

To make a donation to the appeal online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.