DISABLED mugging victim Alan Barnes has launched a fundraising appeal to help the woman who raised £330,000 to allow him to buy a new house.

The committed 68-year-old Christian, who is 4ft 6ins tall, inspired global sympathy after he broke his collarbone after being mugged outside his home in Low Fell, Gateshead.

As a result beautician Katie Cutler, from Ryton, Gateshead, set up an online fundraising page, with money pouring in from around the world in a matter of weeks.

But the mother-of-one now faces the prospect of bailiffs turning up at her house, after being handed a bill of almost £7,000 from a North-East public relations firm who offered to raise her profile after she shot to fame.

Claire Barber PR is demanding the money, which it says was for four months work, and has taken the case to a small claims court.

Despite her troubles, Mr Barnes said he would contribute just £10 to help Ms Cutler out.

After he was mugged, the pensioner, who is visually impaired, was too scared to return to his flat.

Ms Cutler was honoured with the British Empire Medal for her efforts and set up a foundation to support other good causes.

Mr Barnes offer of £10 prompted criticism on social media and shortly afterwards he set up his own gofundme page which said "the money i had was spend on my house now i want to help katie, you guys helped me once plz help me again to help Katie".

He earlier posted on his Facebook page: "i received allot of messages today, i can only say i have reasons please try to understand. I appologise for my comment on Media before. i hope every one understand my situation."

Claire Barber PR is demanding the money, which it says was for four months work, and has taken the case to a small claims court.

Mr Barnes was earlier quoted as saying that he thought a fund should be set up for Ms Cutler, and he would be "quite happy to put just a small donation in".

"It's easy for people to say 'he's got a lot of money, cough up' but you got to look in to all the alternatives," he said.

"It might seem hard, but if I start handing it out, other people might ask for money. It was given to me on the understanding that I use it for myself."

Claire Barber, who has represented businessman Graham Wylie, The Alnwick Garden, Ant & Dec and Alan Shearer, said she had "no choice but to go to the small claims court" as she was unable to carry the debt.

After the mugging Mr Barnes said he would be moving to the Shetland Islands, after getting a "call from God", and put the house he had bought up for sale.

But he eventually decided against this and is looking for another home in Gateshead.

After several hours, no one had donated any money to the gofundme page which is at www.gofundme.com/2pdnvf8