WENDY Close is a one woman fund raising machine.

Miss Close has raised an amazing £1,000 for the Fred Dibnah Appeal, set up to pay for a lasting memorial to the famous steeplejack who died aged 66 in November 2004.

Care worker Miss Close, aged 53, of Astley Bridge, said: "I only met Fred once when I went to visit his home with Halliwell History Society. He was charming. It was so sad when he died at such a young age."

Once she learned about the appeal she set about her fund raising. She put her hobby of cross-stitch to good use by creating a picture of Fred's beloved steam roller, which she raffled and made £350. She then held a canopy sale in Bolton town centre and a Christmas raffle, bringing her total to £1,000.

"It will be great to see a lasting memorial to Fred, it will be good for the town," said Wendy, who is continuing her fund raising.

The fund is being run by Bolton and District Civic Trust in conjunction with the Bolton Evening News. The plan is to erect a statute of Fred in an extension to the glass case which houses the Hick Hargreaves steam engine in Oxford Street, Bolton town centre.

Mr Brian Tetlow, from the civic trust, said: "Wendy has worked very hard and we are grateful for the amount she has raised."

To make a donation to the appeal, send cheques marked Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal to Lloyds TSB, Hotel Street, Bolton, or any of the bank's branches.