A LEADING charity figure has praised residents for digging deep after High Wycombe was named one of the most generous towns in the country. 

A survey from donation site JustGiving revealed the town as ninth nationwide based on fundraising totals relative to its population size.

In the year to May 2014, 31,568 givers in Wycombe raised £1,004,113, putting it inside the top ten nationally for generosity.

And Malcolm Peckham, president of the Rotary Club of High Wycombe, has lauded the efforts of the public, especially during times of austerity. 

He told the BFP: “This does not surprise me and may I take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to your readers on behalf of the Rotary Club of High Wycombe for their generosity over the years. Particularly over these years of recession.

“The Rotary Club supports many local charities as many of you will already know and so thank you for your ongoing support and well done for putting High Wycombe in the top ten.”

Bedford was the winner of the national survey, with over £1.1m raised among a population of just under 80,000, compared to about 120,000 in Wycombe’s, according to JustGiving’s figures.

JustGiving is the largest charity fundraising website, and is partly responsible for a resurgence in donations to sponsored events, particularly among young people.

Recent examples include the hugely successful Kyrece Memorial Fund, which currently stands at £13,400 after it was set up by friends of the teenager who died tragically in the river Thames in Marlow last month.