CARE home staff will hold a charity garden fete in memory of a much-loved colleague who died aged 53.

Sabu Matthew, a support worker at Colne House in Earls Colne, was found unconscious in his car outside the Station Road home in November 2015.

Mr Matthew, a dad of two, was helped by home manager Amanda Schofield and other staff members until the air ambulance arrived to take him to Queen’s Hospital in Romford.

He suffered a bleed on the brain and did not regain consciousness.

Now staff at the home are organising a charity garden fete in his memory on May 27 to help raise money for the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, which has a base in Earls Colne.

Amanda said: “Sabu was a popular character who is still missed greatly by his colleagues.

“The tragedy brought home to us the vital importance of the air ambulance which is based in our village.”

The event, during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, will include a range of traditional fete games for the whole family, as well as cake, craft and balloon making stalls and many other attractions.

It will take place from 10am to 2pm.

Amanda added: “Local businesses, including our golf club neighbours, have been very generous in donating some marvellous prizes for a raffle.

“We have fabulous grounds for an event like this and we hope lots of people will come and support us to raise money for a very worthy cause.”

Sabi Stafford, Essex Fundraising Manager for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, said: “We are very grateful to receive such amazing support from our local community.

“With no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery, the charity relies upon the generosity and goodwill of the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire to raise the £500,000 needed every month to keep both helicopters flying and saving lives.”

To find out more visit ehaat.org.