THERE is no doubt retiring volunteer Peggy Moss has stamped her mark on St Rocco's Hospice.

The winner of the 2015 Hospice UK volunteer of the year award has been fundraising for the cause from the very beginning more than 30 years ago and in the last few weeks reached her milestone target of raising £10,000 from collecting stamps.

Peggy, who was honoured with an MBE in 2001, is keen to stress however while she is retiring from her volunteering work at the hospice, she will continue to collect people's stamps to fundraise for the charity and is still on the lookout for the elusive triangular cape of good hope.

The Padgate award winner added: "I had one once which could have been worth £5,000 but the Post Office had written on it so instead it was worth £5.

"I wouldn't like to guess how many stamps have been collected over the last 30 years but I think it must be into millions.

"I wanted to raise £10,000 before I retired and now it's up to £10,490.

"People have been so kind and I would like to thank them all."

Peggy got involved with the charity after being passed a leaflet regarding attempts to set up a hospice in the town and how people could help.

The retired British Rail employee at Bank Quay spotted used stamps were mentioned on the list and says the rest is history.

The popular volunteer was also one of the people at the forefront of forming a partnership with Golden Square and opening the first Rocco's charity shop where Specsavers now resides in the town centre.

She added: "I plucked up the courage to see the manager at the time and we formed a real friendship from there.

"We used to dredge the pool in the mall for coins using a colander and towels and the amount we would get was enormous.

"We had the shop for about 10 months but then when it was needed again I asked a friend who was an undertaker if he could take the mannequins in the back of his car. He got a lot of funny looks that day!"

Peggy adds while the amount of people who post letters may have reduced, there is still 'more than enough' stamps for her to count.

She added: "It's been wonderful for me volunteering with the charity and I have very much enjoyed it.

"It's wonderful to think all the people we have helped and I've made lots of good friends.

"In those early days it was a dream but now it's a dream fulfilled and even more so with the way the hospice looks today."

Stamps can be dropped off at St Rocco's or any of the hospice's charity shops.