BOLTON’S famous ‘waving man’ is donating all the money raised for him to charity.

Tommy Halliday said he has been absolutely blown away by the support of the public and everyone who has interacted with him over the years.

Tommy had been going to a bench on the junction of Scout Road and Smithills Dean Road for just over 10 years since retiring, feeding the birds on his walk there from Smithills.

However on October 20 the bench was destroyed in a car crash, the second time that has happened in three years.

Wahid Khan set up a fund to help buy Tommy a Christmas present and shelter, which has now raised over £2,000 so far which Tommy wants to donate to charity.

The 77-year-old said it always brings a smile to his face when people wave back at him or stop for a chat, and that the support he has received recently has been “incredible”.

Tommy said: “Not in my wildest dreams did I think it would get like it is now.

“There’s enough doom and gloom in the world so just saying hello or smiling at people as they go past helps out I think.

“I see the same people all the time on their way to work or school. Sometimes I’ll see the market traders going into town, then they’ll tell me they saw me when I go into the market myself later in the day.

“Last Christmas there were 24 cards and presents left by people on the bench for me, which was incredible.”

He intends to donate the money to the NHS, the Bolton Lions toy appeal, Urban Outreach and Bolton Hospice.

He said: “I want to thank everybody who has donated so far, and the Bolton Impact Trust for fixing the bench so quickly, I don’t know if I can really be called a ‘legend’.

“The doctors and nurses and charities working at the moment are the legends.

“I hope everybody will still appreciate their money going to these good causes.

“I feel so humbled by what everyone has been doing, which I only find out second hand from a nephew as I don’t have a computer, and hope everyone appreciates the money going to these causes, it’s from all of them not me.

“I 1,000 per cent appreciate what everyone has done for me over the years and hope I have put a smile on people’s faces.”

Wahid Khan said: “Tommy is a Bolton legend."