GENEROUS donations including home furniture and tarpaulin will make their way to Antigua to help the hurricane victims rebuild their lives.

The donations were dropped off at the MICA centre in West Mersea, where residents are helping to facilitate collections under Fiona Sparks’ lead. A tea party has so far raised more than £1,000.

Shipping company Kestrel Liner Agencies is also on board to transport containers of items to Antigua, where the entire population of Barbuda were evacuated after Hurricane Irma devastated their homeland this month.

Fiona, of Mersea, said: “There are hundreds, if not thousands of pounds worth of stuff to ship - a generator, three front doors, mattresses, cots and travel cots.

“Our community here is incredibly generous and supportive of efforts to help others.”

Fox’s Marina and John Whiting van hire, in Elmstead, have donated vehicles to transport the items from Mersea to Barking ready for shipping.

People are being asked to donate non-perishable foods, personal sanitary items, building materials and DIY equipment like screws and nails.

Fiona’s four-and-a-half-year-old son’s father and grandparents live in Tortola on the British Virgin Islands, one of the worst affected places.

She said: “It’s total devastation. There’s no vegetation, everything is dead or destroyed, and they’re wading through water knee-deep because of the floods.

“The damp conditions have also caused a mosquito infestation.

“Everything they try to do is being undone by something else happening.”

Category four Storm Maria has killed at least ten people in the Caribbean region, in addition to the 42 victims of Hurricane Irma.

Contact Fiona Sparks on 07752932627 or emailfiona@shoresideprocurement.com.

The death toll is expected to rise as a result of waterborne disease and more bodies being found, while the volume of people being displaced from their homes is likely to have long-term health implications.