Gift of logs for disabled Harrogate veteran unable to heat home

Paul Ivison said he could not afford to heat his home and appealed for help on social media

A disabled veteran who could not afford to heat his home has been given a huge supply of logs by people living in his local community.

Paul Ivison, 63, who lives in Harrogate, asked for help on Facebook after he did not turn on his heating for over a month due to lack of funds.

Mr Ivison asked for donations of wood and logs for his fire, which he said he also could not afford to run.

The gift of a dozen bags of logs on his doorstep was "unbelievable", he said.

The Royal Navy veteran told BBC Radio York: "It's just become too expensive to heat my home."

"I'm currently in about £1,000 of arrears with my energy company," he added.

Mr Ivison said due to his disability he could only work two days a week, so his income was topped up by disability benefits and working tax credits.

Logs and wood were left by members of the local community on the Harrogate veteran's doorstep

He said someone had suggested he put a shout-out on Facebook in the hope it might attract some help.

Mr Ivison's Facebook post detailed his circumstances and included a picture of his veteran ID.

It sparked an almost immediate response from several people wanting to donate.

"Within an hour of putting that post up, I had a dozen bags of logs left outside my front door," he said.

"Then, over the next few weeks, there was a continuous supply of logs from the most amazingly kind people in the Harrogate district."

'Very emotional'

Mr Ivison estimated that about 250 people had been in touch about his appeal.

He said he had since been able to light his fire at lunchtime and in the evenings.

So far he had used about 50% of the donated logs in just under four weeks and the remaining wood would last another six weeks, Mr Ivison said.

"It's made me feel very emotional, very proud of my community, and also very humble. The response has just been phenomenal."