The Altrincham community has rallied round to help a homeless man whose belongings were set on fire in a shocking incident in Timperley on Saturday.
Firefighters were called to Larkhill Park in Timperley at 3.42pm on Saturday to reports of a fire in woods close to the site of the Timperley Country Fair, which was happening elsewhere in the park on the day.
They quickly put out the fire, which involved a gas cylinder or aerosol, but it soon became clear that the blaze had destroyed the belongings of Antony, a homeless man well-known to people in the village, who had been sleeping rough in the area.
Both Antony and his dog, Molly, were unharmed in the incident, but it led to an outpouring of anger on social media and offers of help from numerous sources.
Neil Taylor, one of the organisers of the Timperley Country Fair, said that temporary alternative accommodation had been found for Antony but that a more long-term solution was being sought.
He also confirmed that most of Antony’s few personal belongings had been lost in the fire and that a collection point had been set up at The Old Market Tavern in Altrincham town centre to allow the local community to donate further items.
These include: sleeping bags or liners, size 9 footware, 30-inch waist pants, radio, torch and batteries, toiletries, a coat or jacket, and a rucksack or case.
Taylor added: “The local community have been sending out kind messages and offers of help, and this really means a lot.
“Why someone or persons would want to destroy the few possessions a vulnerable homeless person owns is beyond me.”
