A WATCHET couple have appealed for support from West Somerset people as they prepare to head for the typhoon-hit Philippines.

Alan and Helen Wye have worked with the UK-registered charity MAD (Making A Difference) International - which provides aid and support in the Philippines - for the last ten years.

And they are off there later this month on an aid trip already planned before the country was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan at the weekend.

MAD International, which is based on the island of Cebu, was founded by a British vicar in 2001 and works through four churches in the Philippines.

It runs a feeding centre, provides gifts of rice to local people and supports local schools and education schemes.

As well as simply asking people for donations, the charity also sells handicrafts made by people in the Philippines at local fairs and online.

The craftsmen and women are paid between five and ten times more than the usual local rate for their work, with all profits from the sale of jewellery, trinkets and bags being ploughed back into the charity's work.

Mr Wye said the current situation in the Philippines meant the charity needed more support than ever before, especially cash to enable people to buy emergency supplies.

"I've been involved for ten years and regularly go out there to help," he said.

"I was due to go out in two weeks' time anyway, and while making purchases through our website is fine, what is urgently needed now is money to help people buy food and medcines quickly.

"I will be taking finance with me when I go to the Philippines on November 25."

In Cebu, where MAD International is based, reports estimate some towns have suffered between 80 to 90 per cent damage,- and rescue workers have struggled to reach some towns and villages cut off since the storm.

MAD International has close links with Watchet Baptist Church, and while the charity is Christian-based, Mr Wye said he hoped people of all faiths and beliefs would feel moved by the plight of the Filipino people and donate.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to MAD International should make cheques payable to MAD International Charity and send them to Mr and Mrs Wye at 7 Copse Close, Watchet, TA23 0HW.

Debit and credit card donations can also be made by telephoning 01984 634869, while Mr and Mrs Wye can be contacted by emailing [email protected]">[email protected].

Jewellery and other handicrafts can be bought directly from the charity's website at http://www.madinternational">www.madinternational.

org and will also help provide relief aid.

l Members of the Rotary Club of Minehead and The Quantocks are holding collections in Williton and Minehead tomorrow (Saturday) to support relief efforts in the Philippines.

The club's president Delia Paveling said there would be plenty of opportunities for people to support the club's own fundraising initiatives.

As well as the street collections, there will also be a raffle at a 60s night being held in Wootton Courtenay Village Hall tomorrow, and the club's annual Christmas fair and Santa Fun Run on November 24 will also channel funds into the Philippine appeal.

"We wish to respond urgently through donations to Rotary Shelterbox and Water Box projects, which cost £590 and £150 each respectively," she said.

"These rotary projects have already featured in TV and radio news reports of the disaster relief efforts.

"We are confident that the people of Minehead and the surrounding villages will respond generously to an appeal, as they have done in the past in response to the Asian Tsunami."

Anyone wishing to donate money directly through rotary to the Haiyan disaster appeal can send cheques made payable to RCMQ (Rotary Club of Minehead and The Quantocks) to treasurer David Paveling at Elven Oak, Higher Orchard, Woodcombe, Minehead, TA24 8SD.

More information is available on the website http://www.minehead.rotaryweb.org">www.minehead.rotaryweb.org.