VALE people have been busy fund-raising this week for the Danny Shew Appeal and plenty of other ideas are still in the pipeline.

The appeal to raise money for the County Air Ambulance and Birmingham Children's Hospital has been organised by Daniel Sheward's family in memory of the baby who died in a car crash, aged six months, earlier this year.

He was flown by the Air Ambulance to Birmingham Children's Hospital but sadly lost his battle for life.

This week marks the main thrust of the appeal and people in the Vale have risen to the challenge organising coffee mornings, sponsored walks and other events. The schools have also been holding various sponsored events.

Specially-marked collecting boxes are being placed in pubs around Evesham and the outlying villages for people wanting to donate money without holding a particular event.

Three police officers and a civilian worker from Evesham Police are just four of those putting their best feet forward to help raise money.

DS Eric Summerton, PC Diane Summerton, DC Phil Stayte and Dick Sutton are planning to walk from Evesham police station to Worcester police station in about five or six hours next Wednesday.

Gerry Burgess, Danny's grandfather, said: "We would like to thank the people who are doing so much to support this appeal and would urge them not to be put off raising money if they can't fit an event in this week.

"We would like to have everything finished by the end of the month so it doesn't drag on and then we can give the money to the hospital and the Air Ambulance by Christmas."

On Saturday, people can take a close up look at an air ambulance with a specially made cross-section mounted on an 18ft trailer which will be parked outside Iceland in Evesham High Street between 10am and 4pm. This is for people to find out more and is not part of the fund-raising as there is already a street collection for the Poppy Appeal that day.

At around noon, the County Air Ambulance itself will be putting in an appearance, call-outs permitting, for a 10-minute low fly-past over Evesham.

Anyone can send cheques or postal orders payable to The Danny Shew Air/Hospital to the appeals secretary at Emily Lodge, Durcott Road, Evesham, Worcs, WR11 6ED or pay them directly into the NatWest in Market Square, bank account number 15394670.