A fundraiser collecting money in memory of the soldier brutally murdered in south-east London has hailed the 'amazing' generosity of Norwich shoppers who have contributed more than £1,000 towards his family in less than two days.

Drummer Lee Rigby, the father of a two-year-old boy, was hacked to death near Woolwich barracks in front of dozens of people last week.

The murder which shocked the nation prompted Richard Anderson, a fundraiser for the Royal Anglian Regiment, to collect money for the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, with whom the tragic 25-year-old soldier served.

Mr Anderson, 48, from Cringleford, stood outside Norwich's Castle Mall shopping centre over the weekend with a picture of Drummer Rigby – and estimates he has so far raised more than £1,000.

The fundraiser, who will be collecting throughout next week, said: 'It's amazing. The public have been exceptionally supportive. I've never known anything resembling it. I've had more in the past couple of days than I have for the Royal Anglian Regiment in the whole of the month.

'Normally on a Saturday I would get the odd £5 but people were giving £5, £10 and £20 and they've been saying they've been donating online as well. They've been exceptionally generous.'

Mr Anderson, who was yesterday joined by fundraiser David Connolly, said he expected to raise more than £4,000 in the next week or so which would then be sent to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to be able to help support Drummer Rigby's family.

He said: 'We wanted the money to go to his family or son. It's amazing, out of something that's nasty can be something that's going to bind the country together.'

On Friday Rebecca Rigby, the murdered soldier's wife, said he had many times before walked safely down the street in Woolwich where he was attacked.

The Met Police said counter terrorism officers arrested three men, aged 21, 24 and 28, on Saturday evening on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder - a Taser was used on two of them.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, who were arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene were shot and wounded by police and remain in custody in hospital in a stable condition.

A 29-year-old man, arrested on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, has been bailed to return pending further inquiries. Two women, aged 29 and 31, also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder on Thursday, were released without charge on Friday.