Alan Watkins, who is in the middle of a 2,795-mile walk, has been left with nowhere to stay
A fundraiser in the middle of a 2,795-mile walk around the British coast has had his efforts scuppered by yobs who burnt down his tent.
Alan Watkins, who started his journey in Plymouth on April 23, set up camp in Prestatyn as he made his way around the country.
But, when he arrived back to his tent last night, he found it had been set alight and his sleeping bag and other belongings strewn around it.
The 53-year-old, who is raising money for the air ambulance, now has nowhere to sleep tonight.
Speaking to the Daily Post, the builder said: “I started a sponsored walk in aid of the County Air Ambulance HELP appeal on April 23 from my home in Plymouth.
“Since then, I’ve walked to Margate, South Shields, Hadrian’s Wall and Maryport, and along the west coast to North Wales.
“When I got to Prestatyn, I pitched up and went to get something to eat.
“When I got back at around 9pm, I found it had been wrecked.”
Alan said he didn’t know what to do or where to go, but two serving soldiers he had met offered him a bed for the night.
“It was very good of them to put me up,” he said.
“It’s such a shame because I was really looking forward to coming to Prestatyn.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do about tonight or the rest of the tour.
“Money is already tight and obviously I’m fundraising, but now I’m also trying to get enough money to buy a new tent.
“I’m just so shocked that someone could do this.”
Having taken six months off work for the walk he dubbed “a challenge, a dare and a bet”, Alan is due to finish his walk in Plymouth on October 29, but had hoped to make it back home sooner.
His plan was to head to Rhyl after Prestatyn, before heading towards Porthmadog and Snowdonia.
He’s raised almost £600 so far.
“Obviously, I’m worried about arriving in Snowdonia without adequate camping equipment,” he said.
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