'I haven't heard from my mum since Hurricane Melissa'

Paula Robinson said her mum told her 'if you never hear my voice again, just know I love you'

A woman who fears the place she grew up in "could have been flattened" in Hurricane Melissa is one of many people of Jamaican descent in the north west of England desperate to hear from loved ones back home.

The hurricane devastated parts of the Caribbean country on Tuesday when it made landfall as a category five storm, and left many stuck on roofs and without power.

Keisha Adair Swaby, who was born in St Elizabeth in Jamaica but now lives in Manchester, said she has not had any contact with her parents, Tennyson and Millicent, since the hurricane hit.

"I didn't sleep last night. I got about an hour's sleep because I just wanted some information," she said.

Keisha Adair Swaby has not been able to contact her parents who live on the island since the hurricane hit

She was born in Black River Hospital, which has been badly damaged in the hurricane along with the rest of the St. Elizabeth region of the island.

"As far as I know, the area I grew up in is thought to be flattened, houses are just underwater, no electricity, no telephones," Keisha said.

"Until I can hear more, I'll not be able to settle my mind, it's been really upsetting."

Sandra Smith-Brown has family living in Manchester Parish, Jamaica

Sandra Smith-Brown, a teacher from Cheadle Hulme in Greater Manchester, has family living in Jamaica.

Many of them live in the Manchester Parish of the Caribbean island which has experienced high winds and flooding.

The power outage which affected large parts of Jamaica has made it difficult for those back in the UK to contact loved ones.

Ms Smith-Brown said: "We can repair houses, but we cannot repair lives and that's what we're concerned about. We just want to make sure family and loved ones are still around.

"I've woken up with a big heart. The whole community of Jamaica and the Caribbean - we're in mourning.

"Roads have been blocked and hospitals are virtually underwater in St. Elizabeth, the whole place is being absolutely destroyed."

But Sandra said: "Historically, we Jamaicans are very resilient and very resourceful.

"The people of Jamaica, they will put things together because they are so resourceful but this one is a big one and it's going to be a very big challenge."

Hurricane Melissa has left a path of destruction in St. Elizabeth, southwest Jamaica

Paula Robinson, who lives in Preston, has eleven members of her family living in Jamaica, including her mum, who she last spoke to on Monday.

She said her mum told her "'if I never hear your voice again, just know I love you".

"I told her you are going to hear my voice again!'"

"I didn't sleep, I cried all night [and] kept watching the news. I shouldn't have watched it but it's good to know what's going on."

Adrian Murrell, CEO of Windrush CIC which represents the interests of African, Caribbean and black people who have settled in Preston and have set up various fundraising efforts in response to the hurricane.

The group are staging a charity football match and "reggae rush" to raise funds for those in the Jamaica impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Several members of Windrush CIC's team have Jamaican heritage.

"They're absolutely devastated at the moment and really worried about what's going on.

"Over the last few years - we've had hurricanes in Montserrat, Barbados and Dominica and they've been devastating, but nothing like this one."