Charity in huge cash grab gaffe
A CHUFFED driver celebrated the delivery of a £200,000 McLaren but was reeling just ten minutes later after it smashed into a tree.
Neighbours saw the delighted new owner of the 650S Spider celebrating with a bottle of champagne as the gleaming black motor was unloaded at his home.
But only moments later it was seen crashing on a nearby road in Hutton, near Brentwood, Essex.
The front was left in bits after the McLaren hit the tree head-on, while the rear of the mid-engined car was damaged by a sign-post.
Essex police appealed for information from anyone who saw it being driven before the crash. They particularly want to trace a woman who approached the driver and passenger immediately after the crash to check how they were. Fortunately, both escaped injury. Although no one has been arrested, police are trying to determine who was driving at the time.
The McLaren 650S Spider has gullwing doors and top spec models cost more than £215,000.
It can go from 0 to 62mph in just three seconds and has a top speed of 204mph. A CHARITY has taken up to 100 times more than the agreed sums from 25,000 donors' bank accounts, leaving many in the red.
Concern, which helps the poor to combat hunger, left thousands facing bank charges.
One donor had £1,500 taken from her account rather than her usual monthly donation of £15.
Nik O'Flynn, 34, of Essex, said: “They help the poor and they've certainly pushed me into poverty.
“I'm hugely in the red because of this and have to sort everything out with the bank.
Overdraft
“I expect I'll be charged for being over my overdraft limit and have to claw that back.”
She added: “They have admitted it's their mistake but say the quickest way to sort it out is for each customer to ring their bank themselves.”
Rose Caldwell, the charity's UK executive director, apologised.
She said anyone who has been charged by their bank will be reimbursed but admitted that it could take weeks.
No one would lose money, she said.