CHARITIES received a record (pounds) 7.3bn in donations last year even though a third of people still give nothing.

Despite economic uncertainty, the average monthly donation rose by 4% in 2002 to (pounds) 12.93, with women giving an average of (pounds) 13.57 a month, more than (pounds) 1 higher than men's donations while generally earning less.

The figures were released by the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

At the same time as the rise, the proportion of people giving money to charity fell slightly to 67.3% from 68.5% the previous year.

Only 7.6% of people gave more than (pounds) 50 a month, but despite this they accounted for more than 60% of the total donated during the year. The groups said an increase in people donating on a regular basis through direct debits, which now account for more than 15% of the total, had helped to prevent a stagnation in the amount given.

However, giving money to street collectors is still the most popular way to donate, with one in five people making a contribution in this way.

Medical research charities remain the most popular causes, with 24% contributing to them, followed by organisations for children and young people, backed by 20.5%.

Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the NCVO, said: ''British donors have shown themselves to be a resilient lot who, despite gloomy forecasts and widespread concerns about consumer finance, have just kept on giving.''