A FILIPINO nurse has thanked the kind people of Worcester after they helped throw a lifeline to families devastated by the typhoon.

Edwin Vargas, chairman of the Worcestershire Filipino International Community, says the generosity of the city's people has allowed members of his community to raise £1,560 for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan which struck on November 8. The disaster left a trail of destruction across the Philippines, forcing over 4 million people from their homes and leaving many families with nothing.

Mr Vargas, who works as a staff curse at intensive and critical care at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, said: "So many people gave money - restaurants, flower shops, charity shops. Everyone has been really generous. We are so grateful about how they responded. It is just so amazing. The community was really, really helpful."

The community raised the cash through a zumba event, a raffle draw in critical care, a garage sale and donations from friends.

The 50-year-old father-of-two of Medway Road, Ronkswood, Worcester came to Worcester in 2001 but hails originally from the Visayas in the Philippines. He said: "We stopped watching the television. The more we watched the more bad we felt. We had people who lost their family. I have a friend who went missing but thankfully he was found. Four people I know have had their homes destroyed. Everything was flattened."

£100 will be given to each of nine families affected by the typhoon (£900 in total) while the rest (£660) will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Mr Vargas says the money will be used to help rebuild the lives and homes of those affected. They have been helped by charities including New Hope and Cash 4 Clothes, which gave clothing for the cause, and by David Lloyd Worcester which donated a raffle prize.