OPERATION Covert has received roaring support from a Kidderminster club, with its former president personally dropping in to Rhydd Covert to hand over £500.

Tony Rhoden abseiled down a wall to present a cheque on behalf of Kidderminster and District Lions Club to Guide, Rebecca Waterman.

Mr Rhoden, who stepped down from his post as club president at the end of June, described Operation Covert as an "important cause" which needed support.

He said the cash had been taken out of a general fund collected at charity events throughout the year, including the group's Christmas float and New Year's Day Duck Race.

"We've been supporting the Scouts and Guides for many, many years and we felt it was such a terrible act of destruction that we needed to be there to give some money like everybody else has," he said.

Fellow Lion, Colin Hill, said the club had previously supported many youth activities, including the Youth Makes Music Festival and art workshops for schools.

Shuttle/Times & News editor, Clive Joyce, said the group had already helped with other fund-raising activities in the appeal. That included raffling snooker cues when the world's top players came to Kidderminster earlier this year for the Betfred.com Premier League snooker evening.

"We know that they support many causes across the district and are grateful for their donation," he added.