Two weekly newspapers are handing over £10,000 to help victims of the Somerset floods after a donation by their US owner.

Gannett, which owns UK regional publisher Newsquest, has donated the cash to the Flood Relief Fund set up by community leaders in the stricken county.

Newsquest titles the Somerset County Gazette and Bridgwater Mercury handed over the donation to the fund this week and also urged readers to support the cause.

Both papers featured front and back page wraparounds of the floods damage in this week’s editions together with extensive coverage inside.

County Gazette editor Alex Cameron said: “Countless people have got in touch with our news teams asking what they can do to help people affected by the floods.

“The generosity of people in Somerset has been extraordinary so far, not just in terms of donations but in volunteers and neighbours pushing the limits of endurance to help each other in their time of need.

“Stories of people stricken by the floods carried in our pages and broadcast on TV and radio have touched the hearts of readers.”

Today’s edition of the County Gazette features a front-back picture of a flood victim and eight pages of coverage inside, while Tuesday’s Bridgwater Mercury had an eight-page floods wraparound.

The Flood Relief Fund has already attracted donations of £200,000, including £25,000 from Prince Charles’ Countryside Fund and the papers are now hoping readers can help push that figure up to £250,000.

Justin Sargent, chief executive of Somerset Community Foundation told the papersd: “We’re incredibly grateful to the County Gazette group for this donation – it’s absolutely fantastic.

“Money donated to this fund is already helping people who have had their lives turned upside down by this disaster and we know we can rely on the generosity of people in Somerset to continue making a difference.

“We know the effects will be felt for months to come so we need to build a fund that will be big enough to keep offering help.”
Somerset Community Foundation is a charitable trust that directs grants to local charities and voluntary organisations that make a lasting difference to the lives of local people.