An Elvis-loving street cleaner is down in the dumps after bosses banned him from accepting £3,000 for a well-earned holiday.
Paul Spiers is known for cheering up locals by belting out the King while sweeping up in Beckenham, south-east London. His pal Lisa Knight said he is “adored by all” and gives the whole town a boost with his “positive presence”.
The pair bonded over their love of the rock ‘n’ roll icon and when Paul said he was saving for a trip to Portugal Lisa decided to set up a fundraising page to give him a break.
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Donations poured in from residents but Paul’s bosses at Veolia said he must turn down the generosity. Lisa said: “Every day at five o’clock, no matter how you’re feeling, Paul has Elvis playing.
“I love Elvis because my name is Lisa Marie, and the music always perks you up. He said he was saving up to go to Portugal because he’d only been once and wanted to go back.
“That’s when I thought of creating the GoFundMe.”
(Image: PA)
Before his miserly bosses stepped in, Paul said he was “blown away” by people’s kindness, adding: “I did not expect anything like this.”
Locals blasted the decision. One wrote: “The world has bloody gone mad!!!”
A Veolia spokesman said: “Our contract with Bromley Council does not permit our staff to accept any monies or incentives outside of agreed pay structures. We have agreed with Paul that we will match the amount raised… to be donated to a charity of his choice.”
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