A CHARITY busker found himself on the receiving end of a kind gesture when he was presented with a cheque for £700 to pay for a well-deserved holiday.

Norman Evans, from Marske, who recently received the Freedom of Redcar and Cleveland, has raised more than £250,000 for local good causes over the years.

Ian Barnes and nephew John tackled a sponsored walk between Staithes and Redcar on behalf of the Merchant Navy Association's Dormans-town/Redcar branch and Coastwatch Redcar. And they are using the £700 collected to send Mr Evans and his wife, Ethel, on holiday.

Mr Barnes said: "After all the years Norman has given to everyone else, it was time the people of Redcar gave to him.

"He never takes a penny piece for himself, so this was the only way we could think of to make sure he got something in return for all the good work he has done."

Mr and Mrs Evans will spend four days in Blackpool at a hotel suited to coping with his multiple sclerosis.

He said: "I'm not used to receiving money - I'm normally giving it away.

"I don't like flying and I love Blackpool, so this is great for us.

"It still hasn't sunk in that someone could do this for me. I can't thank them enough."

With the Blackpool trip not until later in the year, Mr Evans will spend much of the summer busking in his customary spot on Redcar High Street.

He has so far made £620 towards his £1,000 target for Redcar and Cleveland's special Olympians, with the Daisy Chain children's autism charity his next project.