A SHOCKED street collector has blasted fast food firm McDonald's for trying to move him on as he collected for a heart charity OUTSIDE their Bolton town centre restaurant.

But after being contacted by the BEN, the company accepts it should never have happened - and are offering the charity £100 and an apology.

Alan Rigby, who has had a quadruple heart by-pass operation, says he could not believe his ears when the manageress ordered him to move away from the shop. Alan, 55, of Red Lane, Breightmet, was outside McDonald's in Deansgate during his annual collection for the North West New Heart - New Start Appeal.

He showed the manageress his collecting permit, obtained under local government bye-laws allowing him to collect on the street.

But Alan claims she instructed him to move and said she had orders from McDonald's Head Office.

Alan explained: "I chose to stand on the pavement outside McDonald's mainly to be out of the cold wind blowing down Deansgate.

"After about 10 minutes, the manageress came out to say that head office had asked her to ask me to move as I did not have McDonald's permission to collect outside their establishment.

"She even said that McDonald's supported many charities, which did not include the North West New Heart - New Start Appeal."

Alan, who has been collecting for the charity since his operation in 1992, stood his ground and managed to collect £1,200.

A spokesman for McDonald's said: "Our policy is always to try and help any charity. We do have our own children's charities but we always try to help others.

"McDonald's would not have any jurisdiction outside the restaurant and we would certainly like to apologise.

"We want to give a cheque for £100 towards the charity and I would like to speak to the gentleman personally to apologise."

Alan added: "The last time I collected last March, I stood opposite Fillers Sandwich bar on Deansgate.

"They sent me across a hot cup of tea with their compliments, impromptu. I think this difference in attitude speaks volumes."

Alan, who was head teacher of a special school in Merseyside before he was forced to retire due to ill health, added: "A lot of people would have been intimidated by this attitude and Bolton has a number of people who contribute to this very local cause.

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