'We're amazed by the community's help'

Iona Walker said she had been struggling to keep in contact with her family in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa

When Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean last month, Iona Walker was instantly worried for her family.

With her fellow volunteers at the Afro-Caribbean National Artistic (ACNA) centre in St Ann's, she began bringing together food, clothes and other supplies to support people in need of help.

The death toll stands at 28 in Jamaica, with a lengthy clean-up operation still going on as aid agencies and emergency services struggle to reach parts of the island.

Supplies were collected last week to be shipped out to the Caribbean, and volunteers have thanked people across Nottingham and beyond for their donations.

Hurricane Melissa has caused extensive damage across Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean

Ms Walker said her family lives in St Elizabeth in Jamaica, where she has been struggling to keep in contact with them.

"I've had two calls saying things are not good, they've lost their roofs, but I haven't been able to keep in contact - they haven't got wi-fi, they haven't got the electric [power], so I haven't been able to speak to them a lot," the 70-year-old said.

"It's frightening, because the devastation that it's caused is on another level.

"Some people have lost literally everything, so this will make a big difference I hope."

Afro-Caribbean National Artistic centre volunteers (left to right: Tony Foster, Enid Brown, Iona Walker, Lloyd Ferron) have been gathering supplies

Enid Brown, 72, said a wide variety of donations providing a range of support has been given to the centre to send out to Jamaica.

"We've got dry products - pasta, tinned stuff, corned beef, flour, sugar, all stuff that even if you haven't got any fire you can still have something to eat," she said.

"We've got loads of children's products as well, nappies, ladies products, and we've been given all these clothes from the Download festival, lovely t-shirts and everything like that, and we do appreciate that.

"We're amazed, because here in England people are struggling [as well], but to see how the community's come together is really amazing."