A local press campaign to pay the salary of a medical researcher for one year has hit its £40,000 target.

Last February, the Gloucestershire Gazette launched its bid to fund a researcher for Meningitis UK in order to find a vaccine against the most common strain of the disease, meningitis group B.

The exact amount raised by fundraisers in the Gazette area was £39,791, but Gift Aid will take the amount over the £40,000 target.

Gazette editor Skip Walker added: “When we started this campaign with Meningitis UK a year ago I thought £40,000 might be an over-ambitious target for an area that held no large towns or cities.

“However, the generosity of Gazette readers has been a revelation and not only have I been surprised but also very moved by just how deep people have been prepared to dig into their pockets for this particular cause.”

In September, ten editorial and commercial staff at the Gazette raised £700 towards the appeal by walking 13 miles from their office in Dursley to Thornbury.

The charity was founded by Steve and Gloria Dayman, from Alveston near Bristol, following the death of their 14-month-old son Spencer to the disease and last year it celebrated its tenth anniversary.

In 2007, it began an appeal to raise £7m in seven years which it believes is sufficient funding to help develop a vaccine for group B, the most common form of the disease which Spencer Dayman died from. Several vaccinations already exist for other strains of meningitis.

Steve told the Gazette: “Considering the economic climate, the Gazette’s campaign has been a tremendous success.

“We would like to thank everyone in the area who has dug deep to support our vital work.

“We’re hopeful that it will take us one step closer to finding this elusive vaccine and saving thousands of lives in the future.”