Road sweeper denied crowdfunded holiday will go on trip after all

Residents of Beckenham, raised almost £3,000 to send Paul Spiers to Portugal but Veolia said he could not take the money. Photograph: Lisa Knight

A popular street cleaner who was unable to go on a crowdfunded holiday due to his waste firm employer’s rules on accepting gifts will get to go on the trip after all thanks to a loophole.

When more than 200 residents of Beckenham, south-east London, raised almost £3,000 to send road sweeper Paul Spiers on a summer break to Portugal, it seemed like an example of neighbourly generosity.