A HEARTFELT GoFundMe appeal set up to help a war hero has raised almost £10,000 in a week after it emerged the former D-Day veteran had barely enough money to feed himself.

The appeal was set up by photographer Glyn Dewis after he snapped former Commando, Ted Owens, 94, from Pembroke Dock, South Wales, and discovered the veteran was finding it hard to make ends meet.

Mr Dewis, who lives near Oxford, said: “Ted was a top marksman who landed on Sword Beach, Normandy, on D-Day in 1944 and was injured.

“He was also at the Walcheren landings, Battle of Pont-l’Évêque, surrounded Dunkirk and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge.

“Ted is a real-life hero but he worries about paying his rent and his food bill and affording simple luxuries like getting a bit of meat from the butchers. I think it’s wrong that someone like Ted, whose bravery and sacrifice during World War Two has enabled us to live with the freedom we experience today, is now having to live with worry and that’s why I set up the GoFundMe appeal.”

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Mr Dewis said he wanted to raise funds to improve the former soldier’s quality of life.

He added: “Initially, I set the appeal up to remove his stress and worry about affording to pay his rent, his heating and food bills, and to allow him the occasional treat but now we’re up to about £9,900 - which is phenomenal - there’s so much more we are going to be able to do."

Mr Dewis said other help included buying Mr Owens a motorised scooter, an orthopaedic mattress to give him more comfort, some new clothes and help to get his military ribbons repaired and his blazer dry cleaned.

Mr Dewis told fundraisers: “What you have done is truly life changing. I’ll keep you posted exactly how the money will be used and be totally transparent with that.”

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He added that Mr Owens does receive an Army pension of about £208 a month but he has to pay £112 rent, and more on household bills and car insurance.

Mr Dewis said: "This leaves him very little for food and going out, which is why he ends up staring at the walls of his house."

For more information or to make a donation visit gofundme.com/help-ted-owens