Two kind-hearted Preston builders are looking for public support to start a DIY SOS-style service for local people in need.

John Pickthall from Pcb Builders and Ryan Seaman from RMS Brickworks hatched a fundraising plan after noticing how many people were struggling to maintain a good standard of living.

John and Ryan have set up a Go Fund Me page, and will use donations to carry out work for those in need for free.

John said: “I’m a builder and have never been in a position to be struggling, which I’m very grateful for.

“In the run-up to Christmas, I noticed a lot of people having a hard time, and I decided I wanted to do something to help.

“My way of helping is with home repairs. It could be anything like hanging a door, replacing a leaking tap, changing a broken window, insulating a loft, sorting out damp, tidying a garden, or re-doing a bathroom.

“Someone with no money might otherwise have to put up with this type of thing, or even be living in fear of a break-in.

“We want to make a difference in our community and we can help people have a better standard of living by giving our time for free.”

Talking about who will be eligible for the free service, John said: “We’ll help anyone in need, anyone who we see is struggling.

“It might be people who have been in bad situations, who move in to a property with no money and can’t afford to paint it, or the garden is not a fun place for their children.

“Obviously not the person with a brand new BMW in the driveway!”

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John and Ryan plan to donate a few days each month to the cause, but have big plans for the future.

John said: “We’re hoping to get other tradespeople to help and join with us. As a community, tradespeople come together for things like this.

“By next year we want to have lots of people helping each other out. Say we help someone vulnerable and they get back to work – after we help them, they help someone else in need, like an elderly person who needs their lawn mowing. We really want to make this a big thing.”

For transparency, receipts will be kept and documented with photo evidence of all the jobs.

To find out more about the initiative, email pcbbuilders@hotmail.com. To donate, visit the Go Fund Me page.

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What do you think of John and Ryan’s plans? Let us know in the comments.