Thousands raised for Evri driver injured in theft

The incident happened on Monday in Blunsdon, near Swindon

A fundraiser for an Evri delivery driver who was dragged down the street during a van theft has raised thousands and pounds.

The woman, named locally as Aggie, was dropping off a parcel in Blunsdon High Street in Swindon on Monday at 12:30 BST.

When the thief jumped in the van, she held on to the vehicle and was injured as she was dragged down the road, Wiltshire Police said.

So far, nearly £8,000 has been raised to aid the recovery of Aggie, described as "loved and appreciated" by her customers.

Organiser of the fundraiser, Sam Fitzpatrick, has thanked everyone who contributed as well as Claire and Darren Rule, of the Heart in Hand pub, who organised a collection.

"Thank you so much to each and every one of you who have donated to this fundraiser for Aggie," Ms Fitzpatrick wrote.

"The amount of donations is incredible and goes to show how loved and appreciated she really is."

'Valued community member'

Initially, it was thought that Aggie's injuries were life-threatening, but Wiltshire Police has now confirmed they are "not thought to be serious."

No arrests have been made and the force, which found the van shortly after the theft, continues to appeal for dashcam footage.

A spokesperson for Evri said: "Our couriers are at the heart of our business, with their safety of the utmost importance.

"We are in close contact with Aggie to ensure she takes the time she needs to recover, as well as offering financial support during that period.

"While we're unable to comment on the specifics of the incident due to the ongoing police investigation, we are extremely heartened to see the response from local residents, which further highlights what a valued member of her community Aggie is."