A MAN'S love of Scouting and the Wyre Forest combined to bring Operation Covert an end-of-year boost.

Stan Heath, of Franche, Kidderminster, died at the age of 76 in Worcestershire Royal Hospital in December and his widow, Margaret, decided to ask for donations from relatives and friends in lieu of flowers at his funeral.

The response was overwhelming and resulted in Mrs Heath presenting £1,000 to the fund to restore the Rhydd Covert activity centre wrecked by vandals 14 months ago.

She said: "Stan was very fond of Scouting and was a member of the KD6 Franche group as a teenager. They used to go camping in the forest and he was very keen on it.

"I have followed Operation Covert since it started and I felt Stan would have liked people to make donations to the appeal instead of sending flowers."

She added: "I have asked for the money to be used to buy camping equipment. Stan loved camping when he was a Scout and I hope the money helps others to get as much pleasure as he did."

Mr Heath was born and bred in Kidderminster and worked for carpet manufacturers, Tomkinsons, for 48 years, starting as an apprentice electrician and rising to works services engineer.

He had a life-long love of the forest. He and his wife regularly walked there and had a seat sited next to Dowles Brook to mark their golden wedding anniversary four years ago.