Tideswell grocer delivers aid to South’s flood victims

Tideswell greengrocer Phillip Stafford prepares to set off for flood hit Somerset with produce donated by the village's residents and traders

Phillip Stafford, who works at Peaches fruit and vegetable shop, on Queen Street, spent nine hours driving to the South West and back in his van, packed full of donations from villagers and shops.

The 25-year-old said: “It was a long day but it was very successful and it was worth it. We had everything from toiletries, toothbrushes, soap, potatoes, carrots, tins of beans, you name it we had it.”

Phillip and his partner Sophie Naylor delivered the donations to FLAG, Flooding on the Levels Action Group, at the King Alfred Inn, right in the hub of the flood-hit region.

“It makes our snow issues look minimal! There were houses and road signs underwater,” he said. “The idea started as a passing comment on Saturday saying we should help and by Thursday, it had snowballed and my van was full. I started Shop in Tideswell to help the local community, so I suppose it was an extension of that, Tideswell businesses helping another community.”