A regional daily newspaper has raised £6,000 in a matter of days after launching a campaign to help a unique children’s charity bounce back after a devastating fire.

The blaze at the headquarters of the British Institute for Brain Injured Children, on the outskirts of Bridgwater in Somerset, caused £250,000 worth of damage, destroying its vital therapy pool and crucial sensory equipment.

But since the Western Daily Press launched its “Help BIBIC bounce back” appeal last week, donations from readers have been coming in at the rate of £1,000 a day.

Editor Andy Wright said: “You can always count on WDP readers to support a worthy cause. Six days after launch we had raised £6,000 for BIBIC, much of it in small sums from readers. I think that’s fantastic in today’s tough economic climate.”

BIBIC, based at the 19th century Knowle Hall, specialises in providing treatment, therapy and support for brain-damaged children and their families.

The sensory pool, which was opened in 1989 by the Duchess of York, plays a pivotal part in the assessment of each child and is at the heart of the work undertaken by the charity’s therapists. About 400 youngsters from around the world visit the centre every year.

BIBIC chief executive John Bennett said the Western Daily Press appeal would throw a lifeline to the charity. He said: “We are extremely grateful to the Daily Press for launching this campaign as we are going to need as much support as we can find for this.

“With the way things are with the economy at the moment, we know it is difficult but if the population of Somerset is 500,000, we only need 50p apiece.

“The pool is vital for us and I feel for the staff who were here and did the initial fundraising for the pool in 1989. They are very upset. My priority is to get things back to provide the best service we can for the children, the rest is just bricks and mortar.”

More details about the appeal can be found on the Daily Press’s website – www.westerndailypress.co.uk.