THE RYEDALE grandfather who was stranded in Portugal with devastating burns is on his way home, say his delighted family.

Thanks to the kindness of Evening Press readers who have donated thousands of pounds, Bernard Earnshaw was set to return to the UK tonight.

"He'll be flying into Heathrow Airport at around 5pm," said his daughter, Clare Weatherill, who has spearheaded a fundraising campaign for her father.

"He'll probably spend a night or two at Mount Vermont Hospital, near the airport, before being taken to the burns unit at Wakefield Hospital - that's the nearest one to Norton."

Meanwhile Clare has hit out against false claims that her father owns a bar and lives in Portugal.

Mr Earnshaw, aged 55, who is registered disabled and lives in Norton, was taken to hospital in Lisbon with 45 per cent burns after attempting to squirt lighter fluid on to a barbecue during a holiday in the Algarve.

Without travel insurance he was stranded - his family's only option was to raise £9,000 to pay for a special medical flight home.

But now British Airways has offered to fly him home for less than the price the family was originally quoted.

It means the cash the family has already raised is enough to bring Mr Earnshaw home.

"It's great news - I don't know whether we'll be able to see him straight away but we're so happy," said Clare.

On Saturday evening Clare and her friends collected donations from pub regulars at pubs around the town, and on Sunday they took part in a car boot sale.

Eight-year-old Josh donated his toys to the car boot sale to bring his granddad home.

Meanwhile money has poured in from kind-hearted Evening Press readers.

"Everyone has been so kind and I would like to thank everyone for their help," said Clare.

Clare says anonymous claims her father owns a bar in Portugal are "totally false" and is keen to put the record straight.

"Mum and dad have lived in Norton since January," she said.

"Before that they were managing a bar out in Portugal. They moved out there last year but had to come home because mum became ill."

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, August 08, 2001