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Strangers help Farepak villagers Strangers help Farepak villagers
(about 6 hours later)
Residents of a Conwy Valley village who lost money when the hamper firm Farepak collapsed have raised enough money to cover two-thirds of their losses.Residents of a Conwy Valley village who lost money when the hamper firm Farepak collapsed have raised enough money to cover two-thirds of their losses.
An appeal has brought in donations and letter of support from around the UK.An appeal has brought in donations and letter of support from around the UK.
One in three people in Trefriw had invested in the company, many losing hundreds of pounds they had set aside to pay for presents and festive treats.One in three people in Trefriw had invested in the company, many losing hundreds of pounds they had set aside to pay for presents and festive treats.
Tony Eccles, who lost £800, said: "It's been fantastic. I'm very humbled, to be quite honest."Tony Eccles, who lost £800, said: "It's been fantastic. I'm very humbled, to be quite honest."
The village launched its appeal for help after the scale of the losses was revealed.The village launched its appeal for help after the scale of the losses was revealed.
The appeal was picked up by a national newspaper, prompting people from as far afield as Kent and Scotland to send in cheques which have pushed the village appeal beyond £10,000.The appeal was picked up by a national newspaper, prompting people from as far afield as Kent and Scotland to send in cheques which have pushed the village appeal beyond £10,000.
I'm very pleased we live in a country where people still do things like that Tony EcclesI'm very pleased we live in a country where people still do things like that Tony Eccles
With compensation from the scheme for victims, villagers can expect to see about two-thirds of their losses reimbursed in the new year.With compensation from the scheme for victims, villagers can expect to see about two-thirds of their losses reimbursed in the new year.
Mr Eccles said: "It's only the second year that we've actually used Farepak.Mr Eccles said: "It's only the second year that we've actually used Farepak.
"I'm semi-retired from work, and that's the reason why we joined the Farepak scheme to try and spread the cost of Christmas over the 12-month period."I'm semi-retired from work, and that's the reason why we joined the Farepak scheme to try and spread the cost of Christmas over the 12-month period.
'Crying''Crying'
"Not having a full income, we thought it would be easier to spread the payments.""Not having a full income, we thought it would be easier to spread the payments."
He said he was amazed at people's response to the appeal.He said he was amazed at people's response to the appeal.
He said: "I'm very pleased we live in a country where people still do things like that. It's fantastic. I never thought we'd have would have the kind of response we've actually had."He said: "I'm very pleased we live in a country where people still do things like that. It's fantastic. I never thought we'd have would have the kind of response we've actually had."
About a third of the village was signed up to the Farepak scheme Louise Thomas says she panicked when Farepak went under
Vera Thomas said three generations of her family had been affected by the Farepak collapse.Vera Thomas said three generations of her family had been affected by the Farepak collapse.
She said: "One of my daughters has got two little boys. One's only a few months old. She just didn't know what to do.She said: "One of my daughters has got two little boys. One's only a few months old. She just didn't know what to do.
"She was very upset the day she heard it had collapsed. She was crying in the kitchen."She was very upset the day she heard it had collapsed. She was crying in the kitchen.
"I feel sorry for my daughters because they are on a low income. They depended on those vouchers."I feel sorry for my daughters because they are on a low income. They depended on those vouchers.
"They didn't know which way to turn or what to do or anything."They didn't know which way to turn or what to do or anything.
She said the response to the village's appeal had been "unbelievable".She said the response to the village's appeal had been "unbelievable".
She said: "It's very kind of them. They don't even know us and they've done it. It's been very generous of them."She said: "It's very kind of them. They don't even know us and they've done it. It's been very generous of them."
Her daughter Louise said: "When I found out (about the company's collapse) I just came around my mum and dad's and just broke down in tears. I was panicking."