A charity is sending a £590 box of practical aid to the Philippines after the recent destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan.

Elstree and Borehamwood Rotary Club has sent off a shelter box containing essential supplies including cooking equipment, tents and other vital tools.

It is an especially meaningful project for its president Cynthia Barker, whose family just avoided the storm in their home in Manila.

She said: “It was horrible when I heard of the storm, people are just never going to recover, and the death of families is heart-breaking.”

The typhoon, which struck the Philippines on November 8, was one of the most powerful ever recorded. It has already claimed 5,200 victims, with many more still missing.

Ms Barker believes that practical help such as this is the best way to support those in danger.

She added: “You can build a tent in an hour – these boxes can work straight away. Money is difficult to control and we know these boxes will make it there with no trouble.”

Rotary Clubs across the country have donated more than 500 boxes to the Philippines and continue to support disaster areas across the world, including Syria.

Other packages sent by the Rotary Club include blankets, groundsheets, mosquito nets and water purifiers to ensure the water stranded families drink will be safe.

Anybody looking to help the shelter box campaign can contact the donation hotline on 0300 0300 500 or go online at www.shelterbox.org