Fundraisers have been left "completely overwhelmed" after thousands of people donated to replace a carer's car that was torched during the Middlesbrough riots.
Brendan Nwabichie was left in tears when he returned from a 12-hour shift to find his car, which he had spent the last year saving for, a burned husk that had been completely immolated by thugs.
That evening, hundreds had gathered in Middlesbrough to cause carnage - flipping cars, setting shops alight and attacking police officers.
Brendan, 33, works as a carer at Clare's Care Ltd, a nursing agency based in Redcar that staffs Teesside care homes. Colleagues rallied round the Teesside University student, setting up a GoFundMe to help him replace his vehicle.
The fundraiser - with an initial goal of £3,000 - has seen incredible generosity from the community. It has exceeded £62,000, with the excess money going towards Teesside churches and mosques that helped coordinate the Middlesbrough cleanup effort, and to others that have become victims of the disorder.
Fundraiser organiser Clare Collinson said: "Brendan was at work doing a 12 hour shift at a care home in Middlesbrough when he returned home to see his car like this. Brendan has saved up for the past 12 months for his car.
"Brendan has worked so hard for this to be taken away overnight by 'peaceful protests'."
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Clare also said that staff members had made the brave decision to walk into work on the night of the disorder, as although taxis were not operating, they wanted to make sure all of the elderly people in the care homes were looked after.
She added: "We are super excited to get Brendan a band new car! We have been looking for the perfect one and he is so excited. Once Brendan has decided on a car we will be sure to post you all an update of his new wheels!
"Your contributions can help as many people as possible, proving that the good people in this community far outweigh the bad!
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