MINEHEAD'S prominent dog poo campaigner Steven Heard is well-known and often seen around the town on his mobility scooter clearing up disgusting dog mess left on the ground.

However he has been missed over the last week or so as his faithful mobility scooter of many years has given up the ghost which left Steven housebound.

Now a fundraising campaign has been launched to buy him a state-of-the-art scooter to help him on his mission to clean up the town.

A crowdfunding page is being set up to help buy Steven a £13,500 Terrain Hopper Overlander.

Minehead resident Emma Hobbs says this is the town's opportunity to give something back for all the work he has done trying to clear up the area in recent years.

"This is an opportunity to give something back to a man who has helped keep Minehead a cleaner and nicer place to live and visit, regardless of all the negativity it has brought him over the years," Mrs Hobbs said.

"Steven is a local legend and deserves this thank you for the hours of unpaid work he has done.

"This is the Rolls Royce of mobility scooters and this gesture of goodwill is a small price to pay to get Steven mobile again and helping him continue his personal crusade to keep Minehead tidy and free from dog fouling."

Steven was born profoundly deaf and suffers from Menieres Disease, fibromyalgia and diabetes.

His condition meant he was forced to retire early from his employment as a carpenter.

Steven will be one of new Independent councillors making up Minehead Town Council in May after no political parties opted to field candidates in the upcoming local elections.

Emma Hobbs says she is in the process of setting up a justgiving page to support the cause but there are already some collection tins in shops around Minehead which people can use to donate.

Steven has now acquired a £250 scooter with help from his mum which he hopes will be a temporary measure to get him around for now.

For more information visit the Steven Clean Up Minehead Facebook page.