A Bridport man who made his living from other people’s waste has been consigned to the scrap heap by former ‘friends’, his angry family claims.

Since losing his business and his health Brian Richards, 69, has been shunned by the community for which he did so much, says his daughter Hazel.

Once one of the town’s greatest characters, who collected thousands of pounds for charity, she says he now lives in a nursing home forgotten by the people who were once proud to know him.

“When you think of all the work he did for the community it’s a disgrace,” said Hazel, from Bradpole.

“It really hurts – he’s hardly seen anyone or spoken to them since he went into the nursing home at Frampton two years ago.

“He would love to reminisce about the old days – scrap metal and cars – but hardly anyone contacts him. It is a shame to see what has become of him.

“He once had so many people wanting to be his friend but now he can’t scratch their backs any more they don’t want to know.”

Mr Richards took on the mantle of Bridport's scrap metal king from his father Harry who made a fortune dealing in old cars.

But things turned sour and eventually the council called time on his operation at St Andrew’s trading estate.

He became ill a decade ago and has been on dialysis for the past eight years.

Speaking ahead of her dad's 70th birthday on September 3, Hazel said: “Now he has hit an all time low – confined to a wheelchair permanently.

“He put so much into the community. As a carnival collector he would come back with three buckets of money while others often managed less than one.

“He was a pillar of the town and it always seemed that he had so many friends.” Mr Richards was an active member of the carnival committee for many years, a keen supporter of Netherbury football club and is still president of Bridport Amateur Boxing Club.

Added Hazel: “At the moment he is at Hydecrook House nursing home but we are waiting to bring him back home to Bridport at St James Park nursing home.

“I just wanted to let people know that he is still with us and that he can manage with the few people that still care about him.”