That's a relief

The last two containers full of donations left Wroughton and are now on their way to Sri Lanka.

Last week the Evening Advertiser reported that more than 120 pallets of donations had been sitting in a hangar for more than four months, and there was concern that the donations might have to be dumped.

Organisers of the Wiltshire Mercy Appeal were keen for the items to be sent to Sri Lanka, but they were £1,300 short of funds for shipping. Alex Duffey, chairman of the appeal, said: "I put out an appeal on Wednesday on Radio Five Live, and a charity called Islamic Relief came up with the money."

Mr Duffey is delighted that everything has now been sent.

He said: "It's great. As it was all donated to go to Sri Lanka, that's where we wanted it to go."

He said there had been exceptions, such as items which were not appropriate for the island's climate. He said: "There has been no wastage. Things that can't be used in Sri Lanka have gone to local charities.

"For example, they wouldn't want great big duffle coats. It's more than 100F out there."

In January the hangar at Wroughton, lent by the Science Museum, was the focal point for a massive relief operation.

Mr Duffey said: "The donations covered an acre. More than 3,000 pallets have been collected and sent.

"At one stage there were more than 800 volunteers in the hangar. They all had to be fed and watered.

"Everybody gelled together and gave their all." Aziz Rajab-Ali, of Islamic Relief, said: "I was driving to meet my wife at a DIY centre in London listening to the radio.

"They interviewed Alex on the radio and he was saying they had run out of money.

"I immediately thought that we can help, so I contacted them.

"They have done fantastically well at Wroughton and it would have been such a shame if they had fallen at the last hurdle.

"We've been working out in Sri Lanka since the tsunami, working with both Muslim and non-Muslim groups, so this is just an extension of what we have already been doing."

Dave Andrew