A SOUTHAMPTON pensioner who was the victim of 18 crimes in just 12 months is finally able to take up his favourite hobby again - after the kind donation of a brand new shed.

Frank Lavington, 96, suffered burglaries, criminal damage and even had his old shed burnt down in a string of attacks on his Maybush home.

But members of the community rallied round after hearing about the plight of the war veteran - whose favourite hobby was pottering about in his garden shed - in the Daily Echo.

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary's burglary investigation unit clubbed together to buy Mr Lavington a new set of tools and he was also given a £500 alarm system free of charge from West End company JTL Security.

Neighbourhood wardens have helped increase security at the pensioner's home by putting up a new fence and putting him on their list of residents to check on regularly.

Warden Richard Downes even got in touch with Redbridge firm Dillon's Garden Sheds Ltd to see if they could help out.

Manager Bob Dillon said: "I do quite a bit for charities and the fact that a dear old 96-year-old man had been broken into and had his shed smashed up got to me.

"It just touched me and I thought we would donate him a shed."

The £408 Dolby Apex shed was put up in Mr Lavington's back garden and the pensioner said he was "over the moon" with the donation.