OPERATION Covert is a step closer to reaching the £30,000 milestone after members of Bewdley Rotary Club collected £1,000 in a bumper bucket-shake and car boot sale.

Alan Wood, who took over from John Cox as president of the club last week, said members were keen to help out with the appeal as much as possible.

"Operation Covert is very much a local community project which we're keen on doing," he said.

"We had a meeting very early on to look at what needed to be done and have been involved from the start."

Adding that the group had pledged the cash months ago, he said: "We've done bucket shakes and had a car boot sale up at Rock but the main amount of money was raised at the Shelsley Walsh Motor Hill Climb.

"We got the permission of the organiser and a lot of money was raised."

The cash was raised during the rotary presidential year of John Cox, who said: "We really have to thank generous car booters and people at the hill climb for raising this money. Rotary members were the facilitators, but the cash came from the public."

A total of £776 came from the hill climb event, while the boot sale raised £185.

Shuttle/Times & News editor, Clive Joyce, said the town club had been a big supporter of Operation Covert since its launch last October.

He explained: "As well as this very generous donation, members have worked hard behind the scenes. They have vital knowledge and contacts to help us to get the expertise that we need to push our project forward.

"For instance, we would not have been able to make our anticipated autumn start to the building if they hadn't been able to put us in touch with centre designer, Grace Plant, who has very kindly given her services for free."