Debbie Cheeseman, area manager, British Heart Foundation, writes:

I’m writing to thank everyone who, throughout the month of September, turned their unwanted stuff into life-saving research for the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Bag It. Beat It.’ campaign.

Thanks to the overwhelming support from south west locals, BHF shops across the county have received an impressive 61,763 bags of quality items, helping the charity to reach its nationwide target of more than one-million bags.

More than 15,000 people die each year of cardiovascular ­disease in the south west, but with donations to the Bag It. Beat It. campaign, the BHF will be able to fight harder to reduce this figure.

BHF shops offer a free ­collection service for donations that can be booked over the phone by calling 08082 500024 or online at bhf.org.uk/free.

It has never been easier to support the BHF’s fight for every heartbeat.

BHF shops are always happy to welcome more volunteers.

To find out more about ­volunteering, visit bhf.org.uk/ volunteer.