NEWTON Abbot did itself proud this week when it raised more than £4,000 in a day for the Philippines Typhoon Appeal.

Recession blues and Christmas shopping commitments were forgotten as people of all ages played their part in the Rotary Club's impromptu collection on Wednesday.

Hardened Rotarian tin rattlers and bucket shakers were taken aback by the wave of generosity for the storm-battered country on the other side of the planet.

Rotary president Keith Smith was flabbergasted at the town's response to their ShelterBox appeal on the street in a quiet middle of the week.