A MERCY mission from Bury to Poland urgently needs your help.

Thousands of people have lost their homes after more than a third of the country was hit by serious floods.

Supplies are needed to stop the spread of disease and help the Poles start to rebuild their lives.

Mrs Teresa Lasota of Radcliffe Road in Bury has just returned from Poland and said: "The situation is extremely grim, particularly for the children.

"The water is undrinkable and there is no sewage system so sanitation is poor. There are dead animals lying in the streets and disease is a real problem so children are being vaccinated against typhoid and dysentery.

"Many of the people in Poland are farmers who have lost their livelihood because of the floods. In some areas I saw the water come over the land in huge waves and could only see the tops of old trees because the flooding is so bad.

"There are convoys of supplies on almost every road, but much more is needed."

Mrs Lasota is keen for local people to come forward with donations to help the children.

"I know that Bury people are extremely kind and we urgently need their help," she said.

Supplies needed are clothing, shoes, wellington boots, rubber gloves, washing powder, spades, baby food, soya milk, blankets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, bedding and medication including painkillers and disinfectant.

The Polish airline LOT has promised to fly out supplies to stricken areas.

Anyone who can help should call Mrs Lasota on (0161) 764 0960.

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