A BUSINESSMAN has replaced £900 of charity funds that were stolen from a collection pot on the bar of a country pub.

Money collected for the Great North Air Ambulance and saved in a gallon whisky jar at The Ship Inn, Middlestone village, near Spennymoor, County Durham, was taken during a break-in overnight on Monday. (April 6)

Wayne Richardson, owner of Newton Aycliffe-based renewable energy provider Revolution Power, was shocked to learn of the theft and stepped forward to replace it.

He said: “The whisky bottle has been there for as long as I can remember and people are always putting money in it, as it’s for such a great cause.

“I couldn’t believe when I heard what had happened and wanted to help out anyway I could.”

Mr Richardson's company recently won a £160,000 contract to build a biomass boiler for Riverdale Hall, in Northumberland, has completed green projects at Bellingham Town Hall and installed solar panels at Northumberland’s RAF base.

Tony Langdale, who has owned the CAMRA award-winning pub for nine years, said: “It was really upsetting when I realised the bottle had been taken because we have always collected money since I came here, but never had any problems.

“Wayne has been coming to the pub for years and he is proof that there are good people out there.

“Thanks to Revolution Power, we will be able to get another bottle and continue raising money for charity.”

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.