A LONDON taxi driver has raised hundred of pounds for an armed forces charity in a matter of hours.

Lee Williams from Thundersley raised £500 at Tesco in Pitsea for the Help for Heroes charity.

He was joined by friends, Darren Humphreys, Gary Dyer and Simon Foxen and they collected the money in about five hours.

Mr Williams, 48, who has been a London taxi driver for 15 years said: “Help for Heroes is a charity close to my heart, it such an amazing charity that was started in 2007 to help those servicemen and women who put their lives on the line for us no matter when they served, Help for Heroes helps them get a second chance in life.

"My daughter Annie 19 has recently joined the armed forces and is stationed at ATC Pirbright in Surrey where she is training to join the Royal Artillery, I’m so proud of her and I’m honoured to have raised so much for Help for Heroes”

“I would like to thank the staff and the shoppers at Tesco, as their generosity and compassion for Help for Heroes was amazing, young and old alike, they gave generously and wanted to talk about this brilliant charity”

The group held the event at the supermarket on Sunday October 14.