Cancer Research UK has grown its income despite the wider economic climate, reporting a 3 per cent increase to put its total at £514.95m.

The charity’s accounts, which run in the year ending 31 March 2010, show the charity enjoyed a 3 per cent rise in fundraised income, which stood at £446m, in comparison to £433m in the year before. The biggest driver of voluntary income was legacies, from which it raised £157m.

While fundraising income rose by £13m, the amount spent on generating that income rose by only £1m to £143m.

On the down side, the charity made just £5.5m from its investments, down from £10.1m the previous year,  and £46.6m from charitable activities, down from £54.9m.

The annual accounts represent the latest in a steady increase in Cancer Research UK’s income over the past four years, with the charity growing its income in each one. The organisation has grown substantially from the 2005-2006 financial year, when annual income stood at £380.13m, £134.14m less than in 2009-2010.