SUPERSTAR George Michael has been unveiled as the secret donor who helped save a beauty spot from 'heart-breaking' pollution.

The Oxford Mail can exclusively reveal that pop icon anonymously ploughed £10,000 into a hard-fought campaign to save Thrupp Lake in Radley, after RWE npower won permission to dump ash in the water.

His ‘vital’ contribution to the successful Save Radley Lakes crusade has come to light eight years later, following his shock death on Christmas Day.

Wildlife photographer Jo Cartmell was among the campaigners who were sworn to secrecy after the modest singer gifted their cause with the cash in 2008.

She said: "He deserves recognition for all he's done, it's just amazing. We are indebted to him and his selfless philanthropy.

"I was so heartbroken about what was going to happen to the lakes, we were desperately trying to raise funds. He gave help just when we needed it.”

Campaign group Save Radley Lakes was fundraising for legal help to stop RWE from pouring pulverised coal into the beauty spot.

Mrs Cartmell, who lives in Abingdon, said: “Everyone kept saying we were never going to win. George’s donation was a morale booster and it was absolutely vital that it came along when it did. It was like a dream come true."

Abingdon children’s author and Radley Lakes supporter Paul Gustafson asked Mr Michael for help and in February 2008 - just as the campaigners had been slapped with a hefty legal bill - he donated £7,800 plus £2,200 in gift aid.

Mr Gustafson said he knew former Wham! singer Mr Michael through the star's agent.

He said: "When I asked George for a donation he was very sweet and said yes without hesitation. He didn't want any credit for it. He was a superb guy.

"He had a great love of nature and loved birds, animals and fish and said he wouldn't like something like that to happen."

Abingdon resident Peter Harbour, who was lobbyist for Save Radley Lakes, said Mr Michael’s support ‘helped to raise us up and make us feel strong.’

He said the donation ‘really did tip the balance’ in their plight, adding: "It made a huge difference to the campaigners' confidence at a time when we were so down. People started to believe that this generous anonymous donor had led the way so we could save the lake.”

Mr Harbour said the group wanted to publicly thank Mr Michael, who has been nicknamed Generous George after word of his secret charitable donations emerged. He had even anonymously donated cash to a Deal or No Deal contestant to pay for her IVF treatment, after she failed to win her fortune on the game show.

He said: “It’s typical of what we are now reading about him – he was quite obviously socially conscious. Looking at his life he must have felt down many times as well, but usually climbed back up. And he helped us to do the same.”

The campaigners have written a thank-you card to set among piles of tributes left outside Mr Michael's house in Goring, South Oxfordshire, where he was found dead on December 25 aged 53.