Group of friends give up Christmas to help Bedford victims of flooding

When the floods hit Bedford and the villages of north Bedfordshire, one group of friends jumped to the rescue - selflessly giving up their Christmas to help others.

Shane Pearson and his fellow group of 4x4 users reached out to those who were struggling and provided them with sandbags.

Shane said: "We started on the day before Christmas Eve and delivered sandbags for four days solid."

He and his friends put an appeal on Facebook for sandbags and in the end delivered 15 tonnes of donated sand to help residents who had been hit by the torrential downpour over the Christmas period.

The group of 10 to 15 mates delivered to properties in Bedford, Kempston, Great Denham - and even further afield to Brampton, St Neots and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire.

He said: "We chased the flood. When it came to Bedford, we knew St Neots would be hit next. We were rushing around."

In the end, Shane estimated he and his mates visited 100 houses.

He added: "I felt like I needed to give back. I would hope if the same happened to my house, people would come together and help me out."