KIDNEY disease has forced Bridport scrap dealer Brian Richards to throw in the towel.

Mr Richards, who was 62 this week, has packed in his mobile scrap business and is currently waiting for dialysis.

And now his daughter, Hazel, has vowed to raise money for the Dorset Kidney Fund on Mr Richards' behalf.

Mr Richards was ordered off his site at St Andrew's industrial estate last year when he lost a planning appeal, after a lifetime in the trade. His late father, Harry, was dubbed locally as the king of scrap and the family is well known in the town.

Hundreds signed a petition calling for West Dorset District Council to find Mr Richards suitable alternative premises but without success. He set up as a mobile scrap man but ill health meant that he had to give that up.

Now, he has been told that he will have to start dialysis treatment at the end of the year at Dorset County Hospital.

Daughter Hazel Richards, 29, who is disabled with a heart condition and arthritis, said that many friends and even more acquaintances have expressed their concern for Brian as his health deteriorates and their sadness at his treatment by the authorities.

And she said: "I want to get the community behind my dad to show him how much they care for him."

So when Mrs Richards read in the Bridport News about Bryony Holland and her money raising efforts for the Dorset Kidney Fund along the south west coast path, she decided to make contact.

"I wanted to do something to help but I didn't know how to go about it," she said.

"So I called Byrony and that is how I thought I should go for it. When I saw what Bryony had done it gave me inspiration. It was my starting point, to step in where Bryony had left off and do something."

A series of fund raising events are now being planned and the first one is a bingo session at the Masonic Hall in Bridport's East Street next Saturday, September 14. Doors open at 7pm with eyes down at 7.45pm.

She said: "Bingo is really popular in Bridport. After all, there are many who can't go to the pubs in Bridport nowadays so it's a good way to be social."

Numerous local businesses have donated prizes for the bingo.

Future events include a quiz at the King's Head, Bradpole, and some kind of event between the rugby club - for whom Brian's late son, Sean, played - and football club.