A GRANDFATHER who was about to buy his grandson’s Christmas present when he was mugged in Taunton town centre said it was a harrowing experience.

Edward Floyd, 77, had his wallet, which contained £160, taken from his back pocket as he walked away from Lloyds Bank cashpoint in Fore Street into East Street at about 12.15pm on Sunday, December 1.

But following a community appeal, £666 was raised to help save Christmas for Mr Floyd and his family.

He said: “I cannot thank people enough – things are tight and without the money I had stolen I would not have been able to buy the family presents.”

Mr Floyd, who has five children and seven grandchildren, had been shopping with his wife and grandson but they went into The Perkin Warbeck for lunch, leaving him to go to the cashpoint.

He said: “It all happened so fast, I felt a hand struggle in my back pocket and then a man run off, I shouted ‘he has got my wallet’.

“This is the first time something like this has happened to me and I could not sleep for three days – it has been a big shock.”

As news of the theft spread, dozens of people on Facebook said they would help the elderly man by putting donation tins around Taunton to replace the money taken.

Jamie Wadham arranged with his friend Nobby Northover, at Timpsons, to put a collection box in to recover Mr Floyd’s losses.

This morning (December 11), a staggering £666 was presented to an extremely shocked Mr Floyd, with money also coming in from Nurtured by Nature in Wellington and Katy Jordan, of Wellington.

Mr Wadham said: “I just thought if 160 people gave £1 then the gentleman would get his money back and Timpsons was a good place in town for people to go to.”

Mr Northover added: “Everybody has been shocked by what happened – I thought we would get a few quid but not this much.”

Mr Floyd's thanks the public via this video:

PC Gary Pethick and PC James Breakwell, who are dealing with the incident, praised the community for their support.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of theft and bailed pending further enquires. Witnesses should call 101.

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