Bar staff raise funds for hurricane-hit island

Staff and regulars at Mavericks Bar threw a Caribbean-style party

A small Caribbean island, which was devastated by Hurricane Beryl, has been the focus of fundraising in Huddersfield.

Staff and regulars at Mavericks Bar threw a Caribbean-style party on Sunday to raise money for friends and family living in Carriacou.

When the category-four storm hit on 1 July, islanders were left without electricity or means of communication and many of their homes were destroyed.

Lee Quashie, 47, from Huddersfield, was raised in Carriacou. He said: "It's heart-breaking. People on the island are beautiful, the island is beautiful and to me there is no better place."

Hurricane Beryl hit the island on 1 July with winds of 150mph

Hurricane Beryl hit the island with sustained winds of 150mph. It brought thunderstorms which produced heavy rain and strong winds, with many buildings destroyed.

Mr Quashie, a barman at Mavericks' Bingley branch, said he had seen his parents and friends on the island "struggling with the bear necessities in life".

"Communication has gone, electric has gone, and they were depleted of all the basic essentials," he said.

The day of fundraising at the bar included 12 DJ sets, live performances, Caribbean food, games, a raffle and an auction.

Mavericks barman Lee Quashie lived in Carriacou as a child in the 1980s

Mr Quashie said: "We just want to get them back on their feet... get the country back to what it was.

"Huddersfield has a massive population from the island of Carriacou, because they moved as a community to work in the mills after a recruitment drive."

Mavericks will be donating bar profits and any money raised to the charity Carriacou Unite, which will buy supplies for people to rebuild their homes.

The charity is working with local groups iRoko Community Alliance and Carriacou Hurricane Beryl Relief Fund.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]