A couple who give up their time to collect vital charity donations have been nominated for a community involvement award.

Pensioners Bill and Kathleen Martin travel all over the Medway Towns picking up bric-a-brac, clothes, books and other items to sell in the British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop in Chatham High Street.

The Martins have been volunteering for BHF for more than 16 years.

Bill, 79, of Pattens Gardens, Rochester, said: “Both my parents died of heart problems and you look back and think what you could have done.

“When the BHF opened a shop in Chatham, Kathleen and I decided to join them. We used to work in the shop but began doing the collections after we got a call from a disabled woman who had some items to donate but had no way of getting them to the shop.

“We now spend two days a week making collections from homes in Medway.”

Bill and Kathleen, 82, were put forward for a Pride in Medway Award by their friend John Reed.

John, 76, of Windermere Drive, Rainham, said: “Bill and Kathleen do unstinting work for the BHF. They are the kind of people this world needs more of.”