Stuart Barnes Ltd and Coastal Computing have stepped in to help leukaemia victim Peter Lee replace his stolen laptop. The original story is reported here in the Dorset Evening Echo.

After reading the story Stuart Barnes donated a laptop from his Weymouth computer company ‘Coastal Computing’.

Manager of Coastal Computing Andy Hardy said: “We wanted to help because it’s not nice when anyone gets robbed, let alone when they are suffering from something like leukaemia.

Please click here to read to full story on the Echo website.

SOUTHILL Fireworks will be back with a bang after a businessman stepped in to save the popular event.

Organisers had been forced to cancel the 12th annual fireworks display at Southill shopping centre after claiming the credit crunch had left them unable to attract sponsors.

But when Stuart Barnes saw the plight of the community event he was determ

ined not to let it fizzle out and offered to be the main sponsor for the event.

His backing means the event has been resurrected and will now go ahead as planned on November 8.

Mr Barnes, who attends the display every year, says he was spurred into action when he spotted a story in last week’s Echo concerning the economic plight of the fireworks display.

Southill Fireworks normally attracts between 2,000 and 3,000 people and raises around £1,000 for local charities, but the 2008 event was under a very real threat after organiser Jon Gabb revealed they were £1,300 short of the funding required to put on the display.

He said: “When I first heard it was under threat I thought they would come up with the money but when I read about it in the paper last week I realised they needed someone to come in.”

Mr Barnes contacted Mr Gabb and agreed to come on board as main sponsor to cover the funding shortfall.

His three companies, Coastal Plumbing and Gas, Coastal Computing and Stuart Barnes Ltd, are all sponsoring the event.

Mr Barnes said: “They have made us the main sponsor of the event and we will be working closely with Jon to get it all back on track as there are still the fireworks to get and things and he has to design the firework display.

“They will benefit from it and hopefully we will too.”

He added: “It’s for the people of the community, to give a little bit back as it’s easy to take all the time.

“Hopefully it will be a good night with lots of people there.”

This year’s event will also raise money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Southill Youth Club, Kidz R Us pre-school, Radipole Scout Group and Southill Primary School PTA.

A grateful Mr Gabb said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. We are back on again and everyone’s really quite happy about it. I have had a lot of feedback from people saying it’s fantastic news that it’s going ahead and the charities are thrilled.

“We will try and make it as special as possible this year.”

By Harry Hogger for The Dorset Evening Echo