DONATIONS have flooded in from across the world to help a homeless street artist who captured the imagination of hundreds with his beautiful drawings.

Kind-hearted Stacey Brooker was inspired into action after reading about homeless artist Mick, who sleeps rough in Colchester High Street.

Hundreds of shoppers have admired the imaginative chalk drawings he crafts on the pavement.

Stacey, from Harwich, started a fundraising page and regularly visits Mick with friend Sky Davis, from Colchester.

After raising £600 and consulting with Mick, Stacey will use some of the cash to buy warm clothing, bedding and art materials.

She is deciding on the best way to use the rest of the money after Mick faced a backlash in the wake of his increased public support.

She said: “He has been robbed twice and had a black eye this morning.

“Apparently it is other homeless people, who are perhaps jealous of the support he has received.

“It is such a shame that this negativity comes out of something so positive.”

Mick told the Gazette he has lived on the streets on and off since the age of 13.

Stacey said: “Originally I set up the page to raise enough money to get him a deposit for a flat.

“But after speaking with him we decided the money would be better invested in helping him to sell his pictures and to get them onto canvas, so he no longer has to draw on the pavement.

“People have actually travelled to Colchester to see them and someone from Turkey donated.

“This isn’t a beggar or someone harassing people for money, he just sits there doing what he loves and we wanted to help - it is as simple as that.

“Hearing about his circumstances, he has had flats, he has had jobs in the past and has been on and off the streets since he was 13 years old.

“The next step would be working with him to see if we can set up a stall to sell his art - he seemed to like the idea.”