Film star Hugh Grant donates £10,000 to Burnley plumber's charity

The founder of a charity that provides free plumbing and heating for the elderly or vulnerable has said he is "shocked" after Hugh Grant donated £10,000 to the cause.

Burnley plumber James Anderson, who founded the charity Depher in 2017, said he had to look twice before believing the British film star had made the donation.

"I didn't believe it was him... It's a shock but it's wonderful," the 54-year-old said.

The payment was made to the charity's GoFundMe page for its winter fundraising appeal, which has raised over £70,000.

Mr Anderson, whose charity in East Lancashire has helped more than 19,000 families, stressed how important Mr Grant's donation will be.

"That's 10 boilers for people with cancer. Ten boilers for people who are dying," the plumbing and heating engineer said.

Grant's gesture is about "awareness" for the Depher founder, who also thinks he's a "brilliant actor".

Mr Anderson, who is based in Burnley, explained how mounting pressures surrounding the charity work almost led him to take his life last year.

"It was worth the pain, it was worth the anger and tears to get to where we are now... To see how many people we've helped, smiles we've seen and lives we have saved, it's really humbling for me to know that we've done that," Mr Anderson said.

To donate to Mr Anderson's GoFundMe, click here: www.gofundme.com/f/elderly-and-vulnerable-free-plumbing-heating