Flood-hit school's top class effort to re-open after flood damage 

Parents, pupils, staff and volunteers have been hard at work at Llanelwedd Church in Wales Primary School to make sure it’s open on Monday for the beginning of term.

The school fell victim to flooding caused by Storm Dennis, with an office, the canteen and a classroom badly damaged.

An army of volunteers has been involved in the clean-up, with support from local businesses.

Headteacher Adam Shearman, who was called out at 4am on Sunday morning, said: “The community and Powys County Council have done everything they can. We’ve had volunteers, we’ve had offers of financial help, offers of resources from other schools, it has been absolutely fantastic.

“We’ve got children here, parents and the community. I couldn’t ask for any more.”

A fundraising page with a target of £5,000 was set up by the school’s PTA and more than £4,600 has already been raised.

Carolyne Finlow-Borrowdale, a governor at the school and organiser of the fundraising page, said: “We put a target of £5,000 on there, not expecting to reach anywhere near that and we’ve already raised more than £4,600.

“We also contacted Jayne Griffiths from Tesco, who is the community champion, and she donated a lot of cleaning equipment. She also wanted to do a bucket collection. She said she was going to do a couple of days and try and raise £500 and it’s turned into her doing it all week and on the first day it raised £560.

“We’ve had companies who have donated money, brooms, shovels and gloves. We’ve had companies who have given us a huge discount on things so we could afford to buy extras.

“We’ve had loads and loads of volunteers here today helping us. There’s a lot of people in the same boat as us in Builth at the moment. There are houses flooded, businesses flooded, but the way the community has come together to support the school and support each other has been absolutely amazing and we cannot thank them enough.”

If you would like to help with the appeal, visit the fundraising page.

Church members open their doors to those affected by floods

A Crickhowell church is offering shelter and support to those affected by flooding in the town, which has been described as the worst on record.

Storm Dennis has left a trail of destruction across the country, with Crickhowell one of the worst-affected areas.

Members of the town’s St Edmund’s Church are offering help to those affected.

“As a church, we are aware of many who are struggling with the aftermath of the storms,” the vicar of St Edmund’s, Rev Rana Khan, said.

“We are here to pray and support, but also if there is a need, to provide practical care through providing emergency accommodation and provision of food, working in association with other people in the town.

“We have accommodation available, which we shall offering to those who are affected. I have asked people just let us know if you are aware of particular needs – and we will try to assist in whatever way we can.”

People can contact Rev Rana at any time at Crickhowell Rectory 01873 810944 or through the parish’s website at www.crickhowellparish.org.uk