Former army officer swaps car for armoured personnel carrier to support armed forces

A former army officer has been raising money to support armed forces by using an armoured personnel carrier in place of his normal car.

Paul Haynes of Leamington bought the vehicle with the aim of using it for parties and other events, but has also made it the focus of a fundraising effort for Help for Heroes, the Coventry Telegraph reports.

Mr Haynes explained it was his son who suggested using the machine – which was made in 1966 – to generate cash for the charity.

"If I'm not taking it to events around the country, then I'm in Leamington hanging buckets off it [to collect money], letting people see inside and answering their endless questions," he told the newspaper.

Mr Haynes, who served in the Royal Corps of Signals for 25 years, said he has to keep the AFV 432 model at a warehouse, as his neighbours "would go mad" due to its noise.

Military vehicles have also been used in another fundraising effort by troops currently in Afghanistan, with the News & Star reporting a 24-person team has pulled machines including 14-tonne Huskey around a course in Camp Bastion.

Posted by Samantha Thompson