A fitness fund-raiser held in Bushey has raised over £1,000 for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

The ‘Keep Fit in Aid of the victims of Typhoon Haiyan’ event was held last month at Bushey Grove Leisure Centre and involved a zumba and body balance class. Gerald Yeo organised the event with the help of Filipino nurses living in the area.

He said: "The mission of this project is to raise as much funds as possible in a short space of time for the urgent needs of the people affected by the typhoon and to raise further funds over time to help the people rebuild their communities.

"We are a very small group but are determined to do as much as we can to help to bring some initial comfort to the victims, and provide support for them to rebuild their lives. We’ve taken our first step and hope that whatever effort we put in will multiply many times over to benefit the people most in need of our help.

"I am in contact with a nun who has practically roamed around to reach those who are badly affected. She is currently helping them restore their homes and providing grants of fishing boats for them to start a living.

"She’s not giving fish to these people but literally a means for them to catch fish for a living, which is their main source of income.

"In the long-term we would like to help the victims re-build their lives, we will plan other events for fund raising."