WELL wishers from Southview Park have raised more than £200 and donated a variety of gifts to lend their support to a beloved postman after he was brutally attacked.

Ever since Trowbridge mayor Clive Blackmore suffered a bleed on the brain after being assaulted by three men in mid-June before he started his 4am postman shift, friends and neighbours have looked to help out the 63-year-old during his recovery.

Now in the space of a couple of weeks, local residents have come together and donated books, flowers, food, drink, cash and made cards to show just how much Mr Blackmore, who delivers post to 250 houses in the area, means to them.

When locals met with Mr Blackmore to hand over the donated goods, he was lost for words.

"I am hugely touched and honoured by this. When they came over and gave me the stuff I was lost for words, it is such a wonderful thing to do," he said.

"I am a sociable and jolly postman but I had no idea that so many people would do such a great thing for me. Cards have flooded through my door non-stop, it is quite amazing."

Not long after the attack, Jody Hawkes, of Toucan Street, posted on the Southview Park residents Facebook Page, saying that they should do something to help out Mr Blackmore.

"What started out as a small idea has really snowballed. The support from the community has been fantastic - he is our beloved postman," said the 37-year-old.

"We were all disgusted that anyone could do this, especially to such a wonderful person like Clive. To see that he was beaten black and blue was horrible but he is looking a lot better now.

"We found out that he loves to go to Iceland so hopefully the £200 or so we have raised can help towards flying him out there in the winter."

Although Mr Blackmore was not told he can start back at work next week, the Trowbridge town councillor went back to work on Monday.

"I wanted to get back into the groove, instead of sitting around doing nothing," he said.

"It is a little bit different now as I cannot drive around for a few months so I am having to walk but it is no bother really. I still have a few aches and pains but I am well on the road to recovery."