My fans helped me pay mortgage and debts, says Sudbury busker

A busker who found himself in financial dire straits paid off his debts and part of his mortgage after his fans gifted him thousands of pounds.

Ben Smith, a singer-songwriter from Sudbury, Suffolk, performs originals and covers at gigs, events and in town centres.

After a difficult year, the 32-year-old found himself worryingly overdrawn and facing hefty credit card debt.

But Smith told the BBC his life had turned around after his fans, including a very generous one from New Zealand, sent him more than £3,000 as he livestreamed a gig on social media.