A STREET collection held in Bewdley helped raised more than £130 to support a charity that is battling to end the practice of bear bile farming.

Chris Coldrick arranged the event in Stourport on July 25 and raised £133.12 for the Animals Asia Foundation.

This followed a collection she organised in Bromsgrove on July 18, where she raised £197.51. She has previously held events in Bewdley, where she raised £118.69 on June 20 and Kidderminster on May 30 where she collected £172.27.

Further collections have been organised in Worcester and Malvern on the August 8 and August 15 respectively.

She said: “To all those who contributed so generously, I would like to extend my grateful thanks and appreciation.

“The purpose of these collections was to raise awareness and funds which enable the charity Animals Asia Foundation to continue its vital work, ending the bear bile industry.

“Bears are rescued from farms where they are caged their entire lives and cruelly 'milked' for their bile to be used in traditional Chinese medicine.

“In addition to this work, the charity is dedicated also to ending the cruelty involved in the practice of dog and cat eating in both China and Vietnam.”