No tools kept in the van overnight (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

No tools kept in the van overnight

A NORTHLEACH man who had all his work tools stolen last week has been overwhelmed by the generosity of people in the Cotswolds offering to replace the equipment.

Nick Rainey's Vauxhall Cavalier was stolen last Tuesday and used by four raiders who broke into the World of Mechanical Music in Northleach.

The car, which was full of the maintenance man's tools, was found burnt out near Birdlip later that day.

Some of the tools - worth £2,000 - were found scattered between Chedworth and Compton Abdale, but the majority were destroyed in the blaze or lost after being thrown out the window of the getaway car.

But a pensioner from Cirencester has thrown Nick a lifeline after reading about his plight in last week's Standard.

Nora Hartland, 87, who lives in Corinium Gate, has all her late husband's tools sitting around waiting for a new home and says she is only too delighted to give them to Nick.

She said: "If he wants the tools I am very happy for him to have them - they are just general tools of every kind.

"There's a huge box of them and he can take the lot as far as I am concerned. I just saw the story in the Standard and thought this would be a good home for the tools if he want them.

"My husband was a wonderful handyman. I thought it might be a small bit of help, that's all."

Nick says he is enormously grateful for Nora's gesture and thanked all those who have supported him following last week's theft.

He said: "It's a lovely touch. In fact one or two people have said things like this. One of my customers has dug out a brand new cordless drill which has never been taken out of the box. There's been a real community spirit about all this."