BANKING saviour Dave Fishwick has challenged high street banks to follow his lead after he gave thousands of pounds to charity.

Mr Fishwick donated money to six good causes at his money-lending hub, Burnley Savings and Loans, in Keirby Walk.

The minibus mogul also welcomed the questioning of payday loan bosses by the Government’s business select committee yesterday.

The Burnley branch of Parkinson’s UK, Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Armitt’s Army Help for Heroes, Vikings 2009 Wheelchair Basketball Team, Pancreatic Cancer Action and the Histiocytosis Research Trust all shared a cut of the profits from the ‘Bank of Dave’.

Mr Fishwick pledged that more charities in Lancashire would receive donations before Christmas.

He said he was particularly pleased to support the Parkinson’s UK group as his own father, Anthony, suffers from the condition.

He said: “Different charities need different things. The money will be used to buy cancer equipment for Rosemere, for a special sports wheelchair for Simon Townley, a Burnley lad who plays for the Vikings.

“With Parkinson’s, East Lancashire is the only part of the county without a dedicated nurse to give injections.

“My dad has met with the Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson to raise this issue.

“It’s really important that we get a nurse for this area.”

Mr Fishwick said Burnley Savings and Loans had now donated more than £20,000 to more than 20 different charities in the past two years.

He also called for greater urgency in tackling problem payday lenders.

He said: “I just want somebody to listen to the points we put forward.

“It’s no good just saying this is a problem. We need to try doing things a different way.

“We’re making more profit than RBS and we’re giving it away. It feels brilliant.

The people who will benefit from this money are braver than any bank manager.”