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A cold and starving man who put a sign on his garden gate begging for help has been overwhelmed by the support of strangers.

The 59-year-old from Nottingham wrote in the handwritten note: "Please help.

"I have no food and no electricity. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you."

When it was spotted by a neighbour, community-wide efforts were made to help the man, who lives alone.

He told Nottinghamshire Live he wanted to thank those who had helped out.

(Image: BPM MEDIA)

With no lighting or heating he had been going to bed at 4pm and listening to his battery radio and he said his last "proper" meal was jam sandwiches on Sunday and a few biscuits on Monday.

Craig Crawford, a Nottingham businessman who every year launches a Christmas campaign for donations of food, toys and furniture for those less fortunate, instantly came to his aid.

Craig, who lives about ten minutes away, said: "His house was freezing. It was colder inside than it was outside. He was wearing a coat, hat and gloves.

"He hadn't eaten in four days apart from some biscuits. I don't think he'd have lasted until Monday and that is the sad reality. With no food you get weak and ill. That notice might have saved his life."

In the last 24 hours the man has received donations from Clifton food bank and the electricity and gas is back on thanks to Craig, 35, of Mapperley.

"He was in a dire situation. His last desperate act was to put a sign on the gate. The guy could have died within three days if people didn't take action. How often do we walk past homes daily. You never know what's happening around you. Speak to your neighbours to make sure they are ok.

"It's sad we live in a world where people can get into that situation," said Craig, who runs a software firm and ghost hunt company.

"The poor bloke had nothing, no one. He never claimed a single penny in benefits. He sold his own stuff from home to keep going."

An appeal set up to raise cash to get the man back on his feet has amassed more then £2,500 within a day after it was shared on Facebook .

Food bank volunteer Mark Fraser, a self-employed painter and decorator, said: "We managed to get a parcel of soup, noodles, rice pudding, biscuits and tea bags to him last night.

"He has no social circle - he has just been left and it's like he's faded into the house and been forgotten about."

After reading about his plight on Facebook group Spotted Carlton, Meryl Whittington, a neighbour from a few streets away in Carlton, has visited the man to help in any way she can.

"This is social media at its best to get the community rallying," she said.

The man said the support had been overwhelming. "I put the sign up on polling day and I thought people going up and down the street might bring me a couple of cans of beans.

"I don't want to bring politics into it - it was my own doing. I just want to say a big thank you to everyone."

The former Boots factory line worker quit his job around eight years ago following the death of his mother but was too proud to claim benefits, getting by on money he raised from garage sales of furniture and games.

"I am one of those people who doesn't want to (claim benefits). I want to make my own way. There are other people who need it more than me."

Donations can be made here https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8kKmP2sQab?fbclid=IwAR21FZYwDjuAmm9DMsa4Cy6C4eTYV6muH1gYCxCdiryMY2h11hJZ-QX-tdE