A LEGAL firm has raised just shy of an intimidating £600,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Since 2001 Blandy & Blandy LLP has collected £559,550 for the charity.

The total was made up of the donations clients make to the charity at the point at which their will is written and the pledges and gifts they go on to make in the future.

In recognition for the sum, the firm was given a Cancer Research UK Silver Award.

Andrew Barnes, CRUK Legacy Partnership Manager at the charity, said: “It was a pleasure to present Blandy & Blandy with their Silver Award, in recognition of helping to raise over £500,000 in future income for Cancer Research UK.

"It’s thanks to support like this that we are able to fund ground-breaking research that is saving lives right now. Thank you Blandy & Blandy, may the next 15 years be as successful as the last.”

Blandy & Blandy is one of only two firms in the Reading area to be involved in Cancer Research UK’s 'free will' scheme.

Caroline Casagranda, partner in Blandy & Blandy’s leading Probate, Tax & Trusts team, added: “Thank you to Andrew for visiting the firm to present us with this award. Our firm is proud to have supported Cancer Research’s scheme for the last sixteen years and we look forward to continuing this association.

"We are delighted that Blandy & Blandy and our valued clients have helped to raise over half a million pounds for such an important and worthy cause.”