A MAN who has raised thousands for charity through his bike repair service has been forced to stop after his housing provider told him he can’t store bikes on his driveway any longer.

Martin King, from Eastleigh, run’s a Facebook page called Free Bikes Hampshire UK where he takes in old or damaged bikes and repairs them to either give away or raffle them off for charity.

He has been running the service for over a year and in that time has raised over £4,000 for various causes across the county.

Now though, he has been told by housing provider, VIVID Homes, that he can no longer store bikes on his driveway, and has to find somewhere else for them.

Martin is now unsure how much longer he will able to run his service, as he says he works part-time, and can’t afford to rent or buy somewhere to put them.

In the last week he has been forced to turn offers of new bikes down and has appealed to Eastleigh MP, Paul Holmes, and the council for help.

Martin said: “VIVID said they completely fill my driveway which they don’t.

“I’m not on the main road and unless you come down to the end of the street, you can’t see them.

“It’s upset me because if I can’t have the bikes I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Martin was given two weeks to clear his driveway and last week announced the news on his facebook page, sparking anger from members who couldn’t understand why VIVID were doing this.

Derek Streek, Head of Neighbourhoods at VIVID said:“The work that Martin has been doing to support his local community is fantastic and we’re really keen to work with Martin to source alternative, longer-term storage for his bikes, to allow his great work to continue.

“We have a health and safety responsibility and a responsibility to local residents, to ensure that driveways and vehicle routes are kept clean and tidy and clear of obstruction, but we hope to find a solution for Martin soon.”