A WOMAN has raised an incredible £58,500 for the hospice where her husband died - by selling goods at boot fairs.

Grandmother Dea Martindale turns other people’s unwanted possessions into hard cash at the weekly boot fairs in Herne Bay.

The money goes to the Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent - her husband Kent died in the Canterbury hospice in 1993.

Dea has been running her stall for the last 12 years.

She explained: “One day I was sorting some stuff out and was going to throw it away when I realised I could sell it to raise money for the hospice.

“I started scrounging anything that anyone was throwing away. I haven’t got any friends left – if they see me coming they lock the door."

Helped by her friends Molly Chittenden and Jenny Golding, from Herne Bay, 65-year-old Dea sets up her table every Sunday - only torrential rain deters her.

“My target was £60,000 but I won’t stop when I get there," said Dea, who lives in Sturry.

"I’m addicted to it now. It’s part of my social life and I know so many people through the boot fairs.”