An appeal to help families hit by floods in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire has been launched by the Western Daily Press.

The appeal in-paper and online aims to collect money for those in need, and also match other donations – such as sleeping bags, blankets and pillows, and even volunteers to help with the clear up – through an exchange forum at westerndailypress.co.uk.

The Bristol-based daily covers a vast part of the West, taking in Bath, Swindon, Bridgwater and Taunton, as well as Weymouth to the south and Gloucester and Cheltenham to the north, with stretches of the M4 and M5 running through its circulation area.

So many people in the area had come forward with offers of help that the paper decided to co-ordinate an appeal.

Western Daily Press editor Andy Wright said: “There can’t be a person in the country that hasn’t been moved by the pictures and stories of people caught up in the floods around the West.

“It’s an area known for its generosity and many had begun to offer money and goods before the weekend was out, but in an unco-ordinated way.

“We have launched our flood appeal to help those in need, and we hope that our readers will give generously, both in cash and kind.”

Andy will work with emergency planning teams to ensure donations reach those who need it most, and the paper has offered use of its appeal to the Red Cross.