Millions for flood-damaged county

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About £2.5m has been awarded to Gloucestershire to help those most affected by the recent flooding.

Local authorities will decide how the money, part of the government's overall flood relief package, should be spent.

A special website has also been set up to help raise extra public money for flooding victims in the county.

The site allows people to make donations over the internet, as well as at the HSBC bank, and will help fundraisers co-ordinate events.

Organisers said concerts, charity dinners and sponsored walks are also planned to raise cash.

The fund, which so far raised £597,000, has also been given charitable status, allowing organisers to claim tax relief on donations.

GOVERNMENT MONEY Tewkesbury Borough Council: £600,000Cheltenham Borough Council: £600,000Cotswold District Council: £600,000Gloucester City Council: £600,000Stroud District Council: £50,000Forest of Dean District Council: £20,000

Cash or cheques made payable to the Gloucestershire Flood Relief Fund can still be paid in at any UK branch of HSBC bank.

Organisers are urging households affected by the floods to send in their applications for hardship grants by 24th August.

To date, 300 applications have been received.

The Right Reverend Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester and one trustee of the charity, said: "We appreciate people need the money quickly, so we want to make sure that those in need get their applications to us in time to be considered for the first round of grants.

"We're looking to get the first batch processed at the end of the month so that we can give out the money at the beginning of September."

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is inviting those people affected by the floods to drop-in sessions.

Staff will be on hand to answer questions about the flooding, the clean-up and future plans to manage flood risk.

A session is being held on Thursday at Tewkesbury Abbey Hall, with further sessions planned at Gloucester Plock Court on Saturday, Shire Hall on Monday and Cheltenham's Francis Close Hall on 29 August.