Council urge Ironman visitors to donate to charities rather than give cash to beggars

The borough will welcome thousands of athletes and supporters across the Night Run, Ironkids and Ironman 70.3 events from today, Friday, until Sunday.

Residents and visitors to the town are asked to give any donations via a branded Hope for Change collection box. 

The council said that the “majority of people” who beg in the street are not homeless but are instead likely to be “facing multiple complex issues such as addiction or…