A RURAL community is rallying round to send aid to the hurricane-devasted Caribbean island of Grenada after a South Lakeland couple sent an e-mail plea for help.

Keith Rodber from Barbon is on a 17-month assignment for Cable and Wireless and he and his wife, Janet, were eye-witnesses to the destruction done by Hurricane Ivan.

While in Barbon, they took a leading part in community and church life, with Mrs Rodber masterminding a successful appeal for funds for Barbon village hall.

Canon Graham Bettridge, who leads the team ministry in the eight-church Rainbow Parish' which includes Kirkby Lonsdale and Barbon, said: "Janet and Keith are begging for our help. The island is in chaos. Even the prison has been blown down, and looting and all sorts of mayhem are occurring."

Mr and Mrs Rodber said in an e-mail to Mr Bettridge that 90 per cent of the island has been destroyed, including government buildings, 16 Anglican churches, two secondary and seven infant and junior schools, hospitals and the wooden houses in which the majority of the islanders lived.

The International Federation of the Red Cross estimates 60,000 people are homeless, with 47 emergency shelters housing only 5,000 to 8,000 persons. People are stampeding for water, food and shelter.

Already, the Rainbow Parish community is responding to the couple's plea. Canon Bettridge has written to his eight church treasurers, urging them to provide some financial aid.

In Barbon itself, St Bartholomew's Church has already sent £500 to the Rodber's UK bank account that they can access from Grenada. Church warden Mrs Betty Lord commented: "We will do what we can to respond to this heartfelt plea for support. We hope there will be collections in all our churches. We will ensure that the Barbon Christmas Carol service is dedicated to this appeal from Grenada."

In the last few days, Canon Bettridge has received another e-mail from Mr and Mrs Rodber, who are now on the neighbouring island of St Lucia.

"They speak of how children have been affected by the ferocity of the hurricane," said Canon Bettridge. "Many have gone into what they call silent mode.' "The younger ones are frightened of the dark, and thunder, because the worst of the storm, which lasted for 36 hours, was in the night. Some children have been flown out to family members on other islands, mainly to grand-parents."

Mr and Mrs Rodber sent their thanks to the Lune Valley communities for their recent donations and say that boxes of aid are now being flown into Grenada from other islands and the north American mainland. But they say more help is needed, and repair and restoration work will take many months.