Fulfilling a personal goal, former science minister and supermarket tycoon Lord Sainsbury has become the first Briton to give more than £1 billion to charity.

His charitable foundation has given away £660m to support scientific research, children's charities, the arts and mental health. Sainsbury has allocated a further £465m for good causes, which is in the foundation awaiting distribution, taking the overall total to more than £1 billion.

(Read more in the Times Online)

Last year, hedge fund manager Chris Hohn, 41, became Britain's largest-ever donor with a gift of one-half billion.