A community rocked by the death of David Askew is pulling together to raise enough money to give him a ‘proper funeral’.

Residents in Hattersley were inspired to help after mum Rose told friends how she could not afford a funeral for the 64-year-old, who collapsed and died while confronting yobs outside his home.

Donations are already flooding in for David, who had learning difficulties, and a charity night is planned for next month.

Rose, 89, has lived on the estate for about 40 years and founded the Money Spinner Credit Union to help those with financial worries. She continued to volunteer until two years ago when she had to stop due to ill health.

Georgina Skelly, a friend and colleague at the credit union in Kingston Arcade, has organised the appeal.

She said: "Rose was worrying what she was going to do, how she was going to pay for the funeral. It’s at times like this that the community does pull together. She is a lovely lady and hopefully this will be a burden lifted off her shoulders.  There are a lot of good people on Hattersley. It’s quite a small community and everyone knows each another, sort of like a big family. It’s just a shame that the small few spoil it.  David was a lovely man and he did everything for his mum, he adored her. They were a very close family and we just wanted Rose and her other son, Brian, to know that we’re supporting them."

A fundraising night is to take place at the Chapman Arms, on Stockport Road, on April 3 (7.30pm). An account for the Askew family has been set up at the credit union and collection boxes are in all the arcade’s shops.

Cllr Jim Fitzpatrick, who has represented the area since 1999 and chairs Hattersley Neighbourhood Partnership, praised community spirit on the estate.

He said: "There’s lots of good kids in Hattersley, but the odd one or two spoil it for everyone else. That will happen in any community. We’ve done lots of work in Hattersley over the years and there is a real community spirit up there that I’ve not seen anywhere else. Some of the people have lived there since the houses were built in the 1960s. Their families have grown up there and many still live there. If you look around Hattersley you see the sights, the hills, there’s green everywhere. It’s a lovely place to live – it’s just a shame that a few incidents give it a bad name."

Anyone who wants to help with fundraising can call in or contact the credit union on 0161 368 0894. To donate raffle prizes for the charity night ring the Chapman Arms on 0161 368 1590.