Woolwich: Help For Heroes Swamped With Pledges

The website of the charity Help For Heroes crashed as it was swamped with donations.

The popular military support group was deluged with calls, donations and demands for its merchandise, prompting its website to go down due to massive internet traffic.

Supporters went on Twitter and social networks in a bid to boost the charity's coffers after a soldier wearing a Help For Heroes top was hacked to death by Islamic extremists in Woolwich, south east London, on Wednesday.

Celebrities such as Michael Vaughan, the ex-England cricketer, and the adventurer and broadcaster Ben Fogle were among those urging well-wishers to give money to the charity.

On Thursday, Help For Heroes offered its thanks for the "extraordinary demonstration of support".

Posting a statement on its holding page, it said: "Help For Heroes was appalled to hear of the brutal murder of a serving soldier in Woolwich.

"We are desperately saddened to hear of this sickening attack and offer our thoughts and prayers to his colleagues and family.

"H4H was born of a simple desire to help those affected by service to our country. It is their duty to serve and our privilege to support them and their families.

"We would like to reassure all our volunteers, fundraisers and supporters that all scheduled events will go ahead as planned.

"Thousands of people have visited our website wishing to donate or to buy H4H T-shirts in an extraordinary demonstration of support and defiance of terrorism.

"We are working hard to respond to this level of activity."

It is thought that Help For Heroes will also receive a financial boost from well-wishers expressing their abhorrence at the killing by taking part in fundraising events such as upcoming runs and marathons.