Shropshire storm damage: RAF Shawbury airman help animal rescue centre

Grinshill Animal Rescue, near Wem, suffered damage in severe weather and appealed for £2,500 to fix the damage.

The roof of the kennels was damaged by falling branches as a mini-tornado ripped across the county.

The fundraising for the centre topped £5,000 in less than 24 hours and members of RAF Shawbury were also on hand to help.

A team of aircrew currently undergoing training at RAF Shawbury rallied together in a bid to restore the rescue centre to normal working order.

The RAF personnel from the Defence Helicopter Flying School arrived at the rescue centre to clear debris so a new roof could be put on the kennels.

Nick Williams, warrant officer, said: "The damaged roof drastically reduced the capacity of the charity to care for many dogs as the staff had relocated their current residents into the only remaining serviceable kennels.

"Access to the centre had become near impossible due to numerous trees falling along the length of the lane and flooding had made it impassable for all but the sturdiest of 4X4 vehicles.

"Volunteers were unable to reach the centre to lend a helping hand and the postman was running out of dry socks.

"The team assessed that trenches would have to be dug to drain the lane of water and then repaired the potholes along the route. Having drained and repaired the lane local volunteers were then able to access the centre to continue to support the charity's work.

"With access to the centre secured the team then removed further trees in the paddock so that the surrounding fencing could be repaired.

"The RAF Shawbury team was extremely happy to have been able to provide a helping hand to a charity so close to the station."