GENEROUS attendees at this year's Royal Ascot helped to raise more than £25,000 for the Armed Forces charities.

Representatives of Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund were stationed at the event to collect donations from race-goers, with the Trustees of Ascot Racecourse Limited also making an additional donation.

A total of £25,303 was raised during this year's event, taking the grand total over the last six years to more than £175,000.

Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Walker OBE, Berkshire County Chairman ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, said on behalf of the three charities: “We are so grateful to the Trustees of Ascot Racecourse and all the racegoers who have been so generous and welcoming this year. The day is always a highlight in our calendars and it is so lovely to see the public engage with servicemen and women.

“Our charities help the entire military family, from our oldest Second World War Veterans to those currently serving at home and abroad, and we simply couldn’t do that without the overwhelming support from the public, as we saw once again from Royal Ascot visitors.

“This year we have celebrated and commemorated several big anniversaries, including the centenary of the end of the First World War, 75 years since the famous Dambusters raid and of course the Royal Air Force’s 100th birthday and so it feels even more special.”

Ashley Morton-Hunte, Corporate & Racing Communications Manager at Ascot, said: “We are delighted to be able to give something back to these three fantastic Armed Forces charities who do so much positive work for those in need. Year on year it is wonderful to see racegoers give so generously to the charities and we look forward to welcoming military personnel next year.”