FORMER soldier Mike Buss has vowed to clear his name after being arrested by Wiltshire Police on suspicion of defrauding charity Help for Heroes.

Buss, 39, of Highworth, was detained last Thursday and was held overnight at Gablecross Police Station. He was released on bail on Friday pending further inquiries.

He has stepped down from his role organising Swindon Armed Forces Day which had events scheduled to take place later this month and between June 27 and 29.

A post on the event’s official Facebook page read: “Due to the allegations against organiser, Mike Buss, he has officially stepped down to clear his name.” “Mike still wants the event to go on.”

Buss, who hasn’t answered calls from the Adver or returned messages, has handed over organising of the event, raising funds for Royal British Legion, The Rifles Care for Casualties and Brews And Wets, to his friends Lewis Barrett and Helen Wright.

Several of the Armed Forces Day’s activities have been cancelled.

These include a golf day taking place at Wrag Barn Golf Course on May 20, the sweetheart pageant being held at Bushwackers nightclub on June 27 and an abseil off The Jurys Inn in Swindon town centre organised for June 29.

The remaining events taking place are a family fun day at Faringdon Park Road on June 28 which will be followed by a dinner at Blunsdon House Hotel that evening.

Organisers Lewis and Helen, who the Adver were unable to contact, have assured stallholders and supporters on social media that the two activities will go ahead.

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland is meeting groups involved with Swindon Armed Forces Day today to discuss the event’s future.

Buss runs a gym, in Maxwell Street, which is supposed to be open between 8am and 9pm daily but those hours have reduced and classes have been cancelled since his arrest.

Last night he held a meeting with his members to update them.

“We need to see a show of support around what these bogus allegations have caused in damage to both the gym and to Armed Forces Day,” Buss wrote on Facebook.

“Apologies for disruption whilst I fight these false allegations and many thanks for everyone’s support.”