CREAMFIELDS dance festival is helping veterans to rebuild their lives.

A Runcorn charity which supports ex servicemen and women turns camping equipment left behind by 70,000 revellers into cash and supplies to support 30 community projects.

Ex-squaddie Billy Jones, founder of Runcorn Veterans Association, has permission from promotor Live Nation to clear the fields in Daresbury after campers go home.

Volunteers spend weeks painstakingly collecting abandoned items as they help to clean the site.

They retrieve more when the fields are ploughed in October and hedges cut back in February.

“We are allowed to go on site on the last day to clear everything up,” said Billy, 52, of Morval Crescent, Runcorn.

“We can pick up around £10,000 worth of stuff left behind. Tents, wellies, camping gear, stoves, sleeping bags, chairs.

“We spend two days filling trailers and vans. Once we clean everything we start giving it out.

“Families who can’t afford holidays are really grateful for tents and we donate supplies to the homeless.”

This year they auctioned off 100 tents and other surplus items to raise more cash.

The money funds a variety of rehabilitation programmes to help former military personnel struggling to adjust to civilian life.

Vulnerable veterans facing mental health problems often have low self esteem and lack of confidence.

The charity runs workshops to help sufferers combat post traumatic disorders caused through conflict.

“We work with health, housing, police, probation, social services and every aspect of someone’s life,” said Billy, whose charity now supports veterans in Widnes and across the north west.

“We had have 1,500 calls and never turn anyone away.

“It is humbling when someone’s life has been improved.”