A Good Samaritan who had tools worth £4,000 stolen from his van is “astonished” at the way people have pulled together to raise money to buy him new ones.

But builder Kenny Howe, of Tempsford Avenue, Borehamwood, says will treat the £500 raised so far as a 'loan' and pay it back to charity when he is back on his feet.

The 48-year-old was one of eight people in Borehamwood and Potters Bar who had tools from his van stolen on Tuesday night.

On the previous two days, the builder was among a host of people who gave up their time to help mother-of-two Heather Flack move house after she appealed for help on social media site Facebook.

Kelly Kent, who lives in Borehamwood, felt one good turn deserved another and decided to repay Mr Howe in some way and started a GoFundMe page to buy him new tools.

Restaurant Delisserie, which has branches in Stanmore, Temple Fortune and Mill Hill, pledged £300 to buy him new tools.

But Mr Howe said: “It’s a lovely gesture and don’t get me wrong – I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I feel like there are people who need that money more than me.

“I didn’t get my van robbed because I helped Heather, as far as I am concerned it would have happened regardless.

"This shows there’s a fantastic community spirit in Borehamwood. People round here do stick together and look out for each other.

“I am astonished by the way people have pulled together. I'll buy my tools and pay the money to charity when I am back up and running.”