Tribute compost raises hundreds

All of the bags of compost were sold during the weekend.

Compost made from thousands of floral tributes to the late Sir Bobby Robson has raised more than £800 for charity.

The £10 bags were sold at Earsdon Plant Centre in North Tyneside, with all profits going to Sir Bobby's cancer charity.

Bouquets were left at a makeshift shrine at Newcastle United's St James' Park after Sir Bobby died on 31 July.

Florist Julie Clay, said all 72 bags had had been sold by Monday morning and had raised a total of £860.

She said: "The flowers were laid with huge respect and affection for Sir Bobby and we didn't want to see them go to waste.

Thousands of floral tributes were left at St James' Park

"We got together a group of volunteers to separate the flowers from their wrappings. JBT Waste Services from Bedlington and Com Vert, a composting company at Felton, kindly collected, composted and delivered the resulting compost to Earsdon for us at no charge."

St James' Park was opened to the public for 11 days when the Wearside-born former England, Ipswich and Newcastle manager died of cancer at the age of 76.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has raised over £2m to fight cancer and recently announced Alan Shearer as its first patron.