Alan Barnes to move to Shetland Islands after 'call from God'

Alan Barnes, the Gateshead man who was given £330,135 by well-wishers after being mugged, says he plans to sell his home to move to the Shetland Islands.

The disabled pensioner says he was looking out of the window in his living room last Friday when he received a "call from God" to move to the islands off the north-east coast of Scotland.

Alan Barnes moved into the house in Low Fell just three months ago but says he wants to move to the Shetland Islands to "work with the church and meet new people."

The 67-year-old used money donated to a fundraising campaign, set up by local beautician Kate Cutler after he was mugged, to buy his Gateshead home which he has now put up for sale.

Katie Cutler started an online GoFundMe page with a target of raising £500 but the final total rose to more than £300,000 after donations were made by people from all over the world.

Alan says he has not found anywhere to live in the Shetland Islands yet but, if his house in Gateshead sells quickly, plans to rent until he finds somewhere.

The man who attacked Alan Barnes in January this year was sentenced to four years in jail. Richard Gatiss, from Gateshead, admitted assaulting Mr Barnes with the intention of robbing him.