A market stall in Bolton’s city centre run by Christian Friends of Magen David Adom has helped towards the £150,000 funding of two new Israeli ambulances.

Retired coal miner Barrie Robinson and his team have raised £5,000 selling donated bric-a-brac. They also distribute leaflets explaining why they “stand with Israel”.

Manning the stall on Tuesday, Mr Robinson said: “People tell us, ‘you know what the Jews are doing in Israel —why do you support them?’ We tell them from a Christian perspective why we’ve got to stand by the Jewish people.”

The Bolton group is supporting an ambulance donated by the Christian Friends, who have raised much of the money by screening DVDs about MDA’s work in churches around the country.

Manchester bishop Doye Agama has facilitated the other ambulance gift by arranging for a church in Nigeria to donate £60,000. The bishop, who is co-president of the local Council of Christians and Jews, says African Christians are sympathetic to Israel.

“They see in the survival of the Jewish people a mirror of their own survival. I have been trying in my little way to increase the friendship with Israel.”

The new ambulances will be dedicated in ceremonies over the next few weeks.