Offers flood in to pay holiday parents' fine

After Telford magistrates ordered Stewart and Natasha Sutherland to pay the fine and £363 costs on Wednesday, a number of businesses and residents have stepped forward to offer to help the pair cover the costs.

Rhidian Jones, from Herefordshire, has managed to raise £435 in just one day to help the couple through an online donation site.

Shropshire people are donating as much as they can afford to help the couple, with local hairdresser Tina Sale contacting the Shropshire Star to offer £10 to help with the campaign.

However, Stewart Sutherland has asked Mr Jones and other fundraisers to donate any money they raise to the charity Scotty's Little Soldiers which is dedicated to supporting the children of men and women killed while serving in the British Armed Forces.

Mr Sutherland works at the Ministry of Defence site in Donnington and chose this charity because of his work there.

Mr Jones said: "He is using the publicity from this unfortunate incident to raise awareness of the charity and raise funds for them.

"I think his attitude shows the kind of man he is and I am grateful to everyone who has agreed with me in supporting his cause."

The Sutherlands, from Trench in Telford, spent a week in Rhodes with their three children despite the holiday not being authorised by the town's Sutherland Business and Enterprise College or Donnington Wood Infant School.

They initially refused to pay a fixed penalty following their children's six-day absence from the two schools in September.

After the couple refused to pay the first council-imposed fine of £360, it then doubled to £720 because it was not paid within 21 days and they were summoned to court.

Mr Sutherland has insisted he does not want to benefit from the fundraising and would prefer the money to go to charity.

He said: "We're grateful for the offer but we have asked for them to donate the money to Scotty's Little Soldiers.

"We have been overwhelmed by the support."