A fundraiser who uses quirky inventions to raise money has been put forward for the Pride of Britain Awards.

Tim Bell, who is a regular at events on Sheppey and further afield in his variety of customised mobility scooters, was nominated by more than 170 people for the accolade.

The 79-year-old has two vehicles which he uses to encourage people to part with their cash for the Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance.

One is the Sheerness Clock Tower replica which can also be transformed into version three of his tank dubbed T-75 while the other is a mini air ambulance helicopter.

Both of the vehicles have music systems which blare out tunes which Tim will often dance along to. He recently joined Sittingbourne Carnival in August in his confetti firing tank dressed in a red beefeater costume.

The grandfather-of-five, whose workshop is in Scrapsgate Road, Minster, has raised more than £56,000 using this method over the last five years.

Tim says that he started fundraising for the charity because their helicopters always seem to be landing on the Island to save lives.

As part of his nomination for ITV Meridian's Pride of Britain Regional Fundraiser of the Year Award, he took his helicopter replica to the KSS Air Ambulance base in Rochester Airport where he met members of its team.

The retired electrical engineer said it was a fun experience and that he especially enjoyed driving his helicopter around the real ones and in their hanger.

He added: “However unlikely it is for me to win, the publicity is good for making people aware of the Kent air ambulance charity so whatever happens it’s a win-win situation.

“The people of Sheppey have a heart of gold and I don’t need to win an award because I’m more than rewarded by the love given to me by this community.

“To have 177 people nominate me shows what a wonderful community Sheppey is.”

Tim will find out whether he has won the regional stage of the Pride of Britain Awards tomorrow (Friday, September 20).

He has been nominated for the award before back in 2022 and hopes this time he can go the distance.

His novelty approach to raising funds for the charity has already seen him win the admiration of many Islanders after being recognised with the Pride of the Island award.

Tim started fundraising in 2017 and raised money for Cancer Research UK, with his bike which he wrapped lights around to take part in the Island's lantern parade but switched allegiances to the air ambulance service in 2019.