A WEST Devon shoe repairer helped to raise more than £26,000 nationwide for ChildLine.

Timpson Ltd, a shoe repairer and key cutter with a store in Tavistock, held a fortnight of fundraising for ChildLine, a service provided by the NSPCC, which saw stores across the UK, including the store on Market Street, donate £1 to ChildLine for every £10 spent.

Staff and customers across Timpson's UK stores all took part and collectively raised £26,685 to help ChildLine counsel more children over the phone and online.

Esther Rantzen, ChildLine founder and president, said: 'The money raised in just two weeks by Timpson's staff and customers will save precious young lives and protect children from pain and distress.

'It could pay for a night shift worker for a period of 30 weeks, to support the children who phone ChildLine, often in desperate situations, in the middle of the night.'