AN ARTHRITIS charity is thanking everyone who has helped fund vital research over the past year.

The Otley branch of Arthritis Research UK holds collections throughout the year in local supermarkets and, during 2014 a total of £1273 was raised at Morrisons in Guiseley and Yeadon, Sainsbury’s in Otley and Tesco in Ilkley.

Last year the charity was given £107 from the foreign coin collection at Leeds Bradford Airport. It also received £400 from a supporter who asked for donations on his 70th birthday.

Elizabeth Hoyle from the local group said: “There are more than 200 forms of arthritis; many sufferers being young people and children. None of the research is government funded and much of that research is done in Leeds.”