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Charity box theft prompts surge in donations

Richard Iles A house completely covered in warm white Christmas lights. Lights are also draped all over the trees in the front garden.Richard Iles
Richard Iles spent a week decorating his house with 200,000 lights

A builder using his Christmas lights to raise funds for a veterans' charity has seen a surge in donations after the collection box was stolen.

Richard Iles's home in Winterbourne Down, south Gloucestershire, is festooned with 200,000 lights and visitors to the spectacle are asked to donate to the Taxi Charity For Military Veterans.

Mr Iles left home at about 17:30 GMT on Sunday and, when he returned at 22:00 GMT, the donation box containing hundreds of pounds had disappeared.

But he said the theft had almost "played in our favour" after an appeal on social media prompted an outpouring of sympathy and donations to the charity.

Richard Iles An image of a house completely covered in white lights taken at dusk. The front hedge and a tree are also covered in lights.Richard Iles
Visitors to the lights are asked to make a donation to charity

The charity helps disabled former servicemen and women by taking them on outings and providing specialist equipment.

Mr Iles has been raising money for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans for the past six years but decided to go "all out" this year to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Speaking to BBC Bristol, he said it had taken him and his father-in-law a week to put up the display.

Mr Iles said: "We spent a lot of time, effort and our own money to put this display on and to think someone has stolen our charity money is heartbreaking really."

Richard Iles A donations box for Taxi Charity for Military Veterans featuring images of World War Two era servicemen and women sits next two a box of candy canes and a box of lollipops in the shape of Father Christmas, snowmen and penguins. Richard Iles
The donation box disappeared on Sunday evening

He added the outpouring of sympathy from neighbours and local businesses, as well as the increase in donations made online, had put "a smile on my face".

"It sort of makes up for it really," he said. "If anything, it's paid in our favour - we are raising loads of money now."

He explained on the donation page: "This is a charity I hold close to my heart for the work they do with the ever declining remaining WW2 veterans that sacrificed their lives for our freedom."

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