FOLLOWING the recent flooding that has affected so many throughout the country, a group of churches around the Alcester area are raising money for its victims.

Pictures and stories of the devastation to communities caused by last winter's flooding in the UK brought back memories of the floods in and around Alcester in 2007, and members of The Alcester Minster, a group of churches in the south west of Warwickshire consisting of the churches of Arrow, Weethley, Coughton, Sambourne, Kinwarton, Great Alne, Haselor and St Nicholas in Alcester, wanted to help.

All the minster churches will hold a retiring collection after each service during Lent while a gift for the Addington Fund can be taken to a service in any of the churches, or given to someone you know who will be attending a service.

Alcester minister Pat Newbold said: "There are so many people who need help, so many charities to chose from, all working together to bring relief, but being a largely rural area. It was decided to help the farming community and to give special gifts during Lent to the Addington Fund."

The Addington Fund mainly provides housing and support for farming families who, for whatever reason, have had to leave their farms and thereby lost their homes. The floods have brought Addington once more to the fore, and they are working with the other farming charities, mainly financing the transport of stock and fodder, particularly to help those on the Somerset levels.

"This will be a long haul for the farmers there, whose land has been under water for so many weeks. It will not be fit for use for a very long time, and some farmers will not recover, so Addington are building up funds for the long term," added Pat.