THE congregation at a Wyre Forest church have become the latest supporters of Operation Covert with a donation of more than £100.

Throughout the year parishioners are asked to contribute to All Saints Church in Wribbenhall and some of the money goes to good causes.

Peter Williams, chairman of the finance committee, said: "We feel that if we ask parishioners to support All Saints, then our church has a Christian obligation to try to help people in need.

"So every year we give a percentage of the money to different causes and we like to choose ones that are local, national and international."

This year the church backed two local initiatives - Worcester City Mission for the homeless as well as Operation Covert - and also made donations to the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association (SSAFA) and a school project in Romania.

Mr Williams said: "The committee likes to support young people in any way it can and members felt very strongly that Rhydd Covert was important.

"We have been impressed to read about the way the community has rallied round to make the appeal a success. We think the work that has been done is tremendous".

Mr Williams was involved in Scouting for 35 years. He started out as a Cub leader and was District Commissioner until he left the movement in 2000.

He said: "The church's finance committee put forward the name of Rhydd Covert for a donation without any prompting from me. It was not my idea, but I was pleased with the suggestion because Scouting is very close to my heart."