A REFUSE collector and his family will be taking to the streets again this year to spread some festive cheers and raise money for a Bournemouth charity.

Last year, Richard Arnold, known as the ‘The Rubbish Man’, adorned his truck with hundreds of Christmas lights and, along with his relatives, dressed up in festive costumes to hand out sweets to children and families in Bournemouth for the first time.

Richard said: “We’re basically doing what we did last year but we want to do it bigger and better this time around, with more lights and the music playing even louder.

“It started last year and, considering the lockdown, it went really well but we want to see more people and raise more money this year.”

Richard, who will be dressed up as an elf, will be joined by his brother Chris Arnold, who will be sat on the back of the vehicle handing out sweets as Santa, whilst Richard’s children Megan and Harry will be collecting donations dressed in an eight-foot-tall blow-up elf costume.

Starting on Sunday, December 19, the group will be doing their festive drive-bys from 5pm for five consecutive evenings in the lead up to Christmas Day.

However, Richard is appealing for donations of confectionery to hand out to more residents and help increase the number of homes he can visit this year.

“Without donations of sweets, we wouldn’t be able to do what we hope to do,” he said.

“FDS Waste Disposal at Tower Park have helped us out again this year with a massive donation of sweets. Also, Tesco in Kinson have given us a huge donation of sweets which was brilliant.

“Sweet donations are very slow to come in this year so if any businesses or residents want to help us out and give us some sweets for us to hand out to kids in the area, that would be great."

Having raised more than £1,400 for Macmillan Caring Locally last year, Richard hopes to raise even more money for his chosen charity this year, Helping Homeless Veterans UK.

Richard said: “I have received a few donations already, one of my family members has given me a £100 cash donation.

“Last year, we had crowds of people come out to see us and kids running alongside the truck. It was just great to see so many people having a good time especially after the lockdowns.

“For children, seeing Santa handing out sweets to them made their Christmas before it had even happened.”

The Bournemouth family have revealed they will be visiting homes in the East Howe, West Howe, Kinson and Northbourne area on Sunday, December 19, followed by trips to Wallisdown, Bloxworth, Bourne Estate and Bearwood the following day.

On December 21, residents in Ensbury Park, Slades Farm, Moordown, Winton, Muscliffe and Townsend can expect to see Santa and his elves on the glowing refuse truck, with more destinations to be confirmed.