WHEN it comes to raising money for charity, Steven Ashworth has got it licked.

Steven, 15, got so involved in his school's charity challenge to collect used stamps for Guide Dogs for the Blind that he has single-handedly brought in 82,000 of them.

His mammoth stamp collection started three years ago when he began saving the stamps from his family's letters and taking them into his school, Pleckgate High, Blackburn.

But not content with that, Steven went nationwide writing to businesses and even Home Secretary Jack Straw asking for their help.

Locally Jack Straw's constituency office, Ramsbottom Solicitors, Wilkinson's Solicitors and Cunningham Turner Solicitors all helped his cause.

And Fieldings Porter Solicitors in Blackburn have given Steven almost 9,000 stamps.

His efforts have earned him a certificate from the charity.

Steven said: " I decided that I could do more than just bring in stamps from home so that is when I got the idea of writing to businesses.

"Guide Dogs for the Blind is a really good cause and I'll probably carry on collecting even when I leave school."

Kathleen Emery, Steven's RE teacher, said: "Steven seems to have taken on a one-man challenge with his stamp collecting. We are really proud of him and all the effort he has put in."

If anybody wants to help Steven and Guide Dogs for the Blind, stamps can be sent to Steven Ashworth, care of Pleckgate High School, Pleckgate Road, Blackburn.