Charities must file their accounts with the Commission within ten months of the end of the financial year, but for the 2005 results more than one in 10 of the largest 100 organisations failed to file with the regulator on time. The Commission then launched an appeal calling on the top charities to set an example to the rest.

Charity Commission chief executive Andrew Hind said: “To have a full house just one year after our campaign to get the top 100 charities to improve their financial accountability is a remarkable achievement. I’m really encouraged by the way these charities have responded to the need for public accountability – they set a great example for other charities to follow.”

Keith Hickey, chair of the Charity Finance Directors’ Group, added: “This is good news and as it should be. It’s important that charity beneficiaries, donors and other stakeholders have up to date information on the work and results of charities, and this is just the example that these charities should be setting.”