The newspaper told how the incident had left Fred Taylor a prisoner in his own home, prompting dozens of readers to call in offering to help – including the director of a local company who has offered to fix the scooter for free.
Fred said: “I’m so touched. It’s wonderful to think that so many people care enough to want to help me. I am indebted to the Guardian.”
The campaign aims to rid the city of vandalism and graffiti.
And the council has now swung into action, cleaning up graffiti and repairing broken windows shortly after incidents are reported.
Coverage in the paper has been given credit for helping to save the centre as Nottingham County Council put extra funding in place.
Pensioners who use the centre were delighted.
Winnie Beadle, who originally contacted the paper, said: “They all said it was thanks to me for creating a fuss, but all I did was go to the Worksop Guardian and its article saved us!”
Jan Townsend, (60), and Eric Green, (68), are both widowed and had resigned themselves to spending the rest of their lives alone until they decided to look at the paper’s Two’s Company introduction column.
Eric replied to an advert placed by Jan, and after hitting it off they will now marry at York Register Office on September 1.
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