Pensioners have been doing their bit for Help for Heroes by chipping in their loose change.

A collecting bucket was placed in the lounge of the York Place sheltered accommodation in St Martins, Marlborough, where the residents hold their social events.

Over the weeks they popped in their loose change and the tally came to £153 when counted.

On Thursday the 32 residents of York Place were delighted when two members of 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, based at Bulford on Salisbury Plain, dropped in to receive the cheque on behalf of H4H.

The battalion, which has served in Afghanistan, is building close links with Marlborough and is due to receive the freedom of the town next year.

Its commanding officer Lt Col Ben Kite arranged for the two soldiers, a corporal and lance corporal, who cannot be named for security reasons, to collect the cheque and drop it into the charity’s headquarters in Tidworth.

The corporal said: “We are delighted to receive this cheque on behalf of this wonderful charity.”

David Dobie, chairman of the residents committee at York Place, said they wanted to raise money for a charity and decided on Help for Heroes because of the excellent work it does.

His wife Anne added: “The money was raised from donations by the residents and also from our Saturday mornings when we gather and everyone is asked to give 20p for a cup of tea and that went into the Help for Heroes bucket as well.”