STAFF at a building materials firm have raised £2,400 for a charity which helps veterans.

Kent Blaxill, which has its headquarters in Layer Road, Colchester, chose Help For Heroes as their chosen charity for 2018.

Throughout last year, staff took on gruelling endurance challenges as well as holding a fun cake sale and placing collection tins around their stores to help raise the vital cash.

PA to the directors Monica Hartley said: "The whole company has been excited to get behind this challenge - managing director, Simon Blaxill cycled 484 miles where he climbed 67,432ft for Challenge Adventure Charities and raised £1,100.

"Paul Jones, who was formerly at our Melton branch, ran 180kms for Help for Heroes across 2018, raising £541.25 which included running Colchester Half Marathon, Alton Water 10k, Colchester Zoo 10k, Orwell Marathon, Colour Run Colchester, Rendlesham Half Marathon, Ipswich Half Marathon, Felixstowe 10 mile, Martlesham 10k, Stowmarket seven mile and the Hadleigh 10 mile."

"Back at our Colchester HQ, we had a grand cake sale which raised £633.98 and we also displayed collection tins on the counters which raised £120 so the whole company and customers helped with the fundraising."

Mr Blaxill added: "We are honoured to support Help for Heroes - it is a marvellous charity and as our family company began trading over 180 years ago in a barracks town, it couldn’t be more fitting to be supporting them.

"We are delighted to handover £2,400 to assist Help for Heroes with their great work."