A KIND-HEARTED man who puts warm clothing out for people in need says he fears he may be forced to move his stand.

Wayne Whittaker, from Malvern, first decided to take a rack of coats to outside the Wilko in Malvern in December.

Since then he has been going out to Church Walk every Saturday with his rack of coats to hand them out to rough sleepers and anyone struggling for money.

Mr Whittaker, 45, told the Gazette he received an email from an agent representing the freeholder of Church Walk, saying that placing stalls and stands in the street is not allowed without permission.

However, his rack doesn't block the footpath as it's only around two feet wide.

"It is a bit galling to have to ask permission to do something which could potentially help a lot of people," said Mr Whittaker. "The homeless have as much a right to a warm coat as anyone.

"I cannot believe they would do this when all I am doing is trying to do something nice. We have had nothing but good responses to it and it seems very sad.

"I do still very much intend to bring out the rack to hand out the coats. Where I do it is the question."

John Brown, who acts as agent for the freeholder, said Mr Whittaker is welcome to put his coat rack up but that he must ask permission to do so first.

Mr Brown said: "We have not said he cannot put the rack up. All we have said is that if he would like to do so he must go through the proper channels and get permission in the same way that all charitable activities must do.

"We have wished him every success in his activity and all we ask is that he comes to us first for permission."

Mr Whittaker started taking his coat rack to Church Walk after helping a friend who was going through financial difficulties.

He said: "I have two kids so know how hard it can be to find money for everything and that’s why I’m doing this.

"With more people using foodbanks and not being able to pay for gas and electricity, at least we can try and help them keep warm.

"I don’t want people to suffer the social stigma that can be attached to services like this.

"I’ve supported a friend who needed the help of a local foodbank and the amount of people and red tape they had to go through had a serious effect on how they felt as a person, and that for me is not acceptable."