More than £2,600 has been raised by Hyndburn folk in honour of a soldier who was wounded in Afghanistan.

Sapper Sam Taylor, 24, was shot by a Taliban sniper near the Nad E Ali district of Helmand in October last year.

The bullet hit his spine, missing his spinal cord by a millimetre and exited through the right hand side of his neck.

A millimetre either way and he would not have survived.

Former Mt Carmel pupil Sam was repatriated to the UK 48 hours later and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

His parents Ann and Anthony Taylor, of Limefield Street, Accrington, his sister Natalie, 22, and her partner Dan, travelled to Birmingham to be closer to Sam during his recuperation.

Sam underwent a second operation to repair nerve damage in his arm before he was released from hospital.

But while Sam and his family were in Birmingham, the fundraising was in full swing in Hyndburn.

Sam’s mum Ann said: "Regulars at the Park Inn and the Arden Inn were of course shocked when they heard the news about Sam as it brought home to them the realities that our armed forces are fighting a war and nearly everyone knew of a local soldier who is either in Afghanistan, has been there or will be deployed there in the future.

"This inspired them to begin fundraising as a tribute to our local soldiers and it was agreed that all proceeds would be donated to Help for Heroes."

A staggering £2,683.19 has been raised in just a few short months. This includes £1900 from the Arden Inn on Abbey Street, £533.09 at the Park Inn on Manchester Road and £250.10 from staff at the North Lancs Training Group where Ann works.

On Saturday, February 12 Sam and his family visited the Arden Inn to collect a cheque on behalf of Help For Heroes.

The pub was instrumental in raising money for the cause, taking in £1300 through a bucket collection alone.

Ann said: "The response from people has been wonderful. When the landlord of the Castle Hotel, Whalley Road heard about the event, he had a whip round in his own pub and collected £100 which he gave to the Arden Inn to boost their fund."

Sam has returned to his barracks in Woodbridge, Suffolk. He receives intensive physiotherapy on a twice daily basis to help him regain feeling in his right arm.

But the fundraising is not over. The Peel Park Hotel on Turkey Street is organising a fundraiser on May 1 and plans for other events are in the pipeline. Ann added: "The entire community has come together for this cause which is wonderful to see."

For more about the fundraising efforts visit: www.bmycharity.com/v2/hyndburnheroes.