EVESHAM'S Methodist Church in Evesham agreed to donate £1,000from its Emergency Fund to the Disasters Emergency Committee ongoing appeal for Gaza and Church Action on Poverty in the UK.

The church decided to add to the almost £5,000 already donated over the last two years by making the donation at its recent church council.

Most of the donations have gone to Syria, Iraq and Gaza, but there has also been giving to groups seeking to assist the poor in the UK.

The last grants were split equally between the Disasters Emergency Committee ongoing appeal for Gaza and Church Action on Poverty in the UK.

John Powney is the treasurer of the fund, set up to allow the church to respond urgently to events which requiring support.

He said: "We felt as a Christian community we should have money in the bank to give to immediate disasters such as earthquakes or floods.

"But when the fund builds up over time we contribute to ongoing emergencies, such as the terrible situations in Gaza and Syria, and the increasing poverty in the UK. We also support our local foodbank based at Caring Hands."

The minister Revd Christine Kettlety added: "This is an extremely generous church. I can say this as the Minister as I was not responsible for the setting up of this Fund, it was here before I came.

"It is well known that people attending church are more likely to give to assist those less fortunate. It is part of our calling as followers of Jesus Christ.

"The church also supports a joint Methodist project assisting a hospital in Sierra Leone’, a project in the Gambia and a school for the blind in Tanzania."

The Church is also supporting the publication of a booklet shortly to be published entitled Why Foodbanks in Evesham?, which has the backing of Christian representatives from several churches.