Fearing her niece is among the victims of the Philippines typhoon, distraught Trowbridge woman Gina Stokes has urged people in Wiltshire to help the relief effort.

Mrs Stokes, 47, who lives on Bond Street, Trowbridge, with her 11-year-old son Santiago, has lost contact with her relative and spoke of her anguish after seeing her homeland ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan.

She said: “I have family back in Malibago, the village where I was born. My 19-year-old niece Regine Alveza is still missing.

“Last week I managed one very quick phone call to the village, but I don’t know where she is.

“It’s about two hours’ drive from Tacloban city, and it’s so difficult to get the aid there because of all the debris on the road. They have children and elderly people there with no food, no electricity, nothing.

“She’s just finished high school, and was working part-time in the village. Since she was two I was looking after her. She was with me until I came to the UK and I gave her back to her parents. I never managed to bring her over here, but I would like to now.”

Since the storm hit on November 8 she has donated clothes and money at the Trowbridge Red Cross shop.

She said: “I was shocked when I saw Tacloban on TV, seeing all the people lying dead and crying made me really feel bad.

“I ran to the Red Cross to give some money straight away. They can get money across to the Philippines, and I would like to go out with a bucket to collect more if someone can provide somewhere to do it.”

Anyone who can offer Mrs Stokes somewhere in Trowbridge to collect money can contact her on 07557 645232.