AN AID effort in the region is continuing to send livestock feed to flood hit farmers in the South- West.

Armstrong Richardson, the Stokesley-based agricultural merchants, has delivered a load free of charge direct to a Somerset farm.

The straw was donated by Sarah Duell of Middlefield Farm, Stockton, and The Hutchinson Family of Red Gap Farm, Wynyard, and was taken to farmer Mike Curtis, of Thorney Moor Farm, near Langport, Somerset.

Tim Sedgewick, of H&H Land and Property, has been co-ordinating the Forage Aid effort, and said: “Mr Curtis was extremely grateful for the donation, he told me how the floods had transformed his business and family life.

“They had lost the majority of the straw and feed they had planned for their cattle this year, and as the ground was still wet and contaminated they were forced to keep their cattle inside and were rapidly running out of bedding.”

Mr Sedgewick added: “We are indebted to Armstrong Richardson donating haulage to transport forage to Somerset, it really is making a difference.

Following on from Westgarth Farms donation in March, it has been heartwarming to see the farming industry club together in this time of need.”

Charlie Jones, transport manager for Armstrong Richardson, said: “We were more than happy to help with the Forage Aid appeal, it was good to see the donations pledged from Sarah Duell and the Hutchinsons, and we had a very enjoyable afternoon collecting the straw from their farms.”

Mr Sedgewick said more than 100 bales of straw had been delivered to Somerset from local farmers since he launched the relief effort with fellow farmers Henry Hutchinson and Ben Layfield. The group has more forage pledged from across the region but are struggling to find haulage to take it to Somerset. An earlier delivery had to be abandoned when Tesco withdrew its offer of transport at late notice.

However, the relief effort has convinced many people to donate financially.

Staindrop Young Farmers’ Club is fundraising and will donate to farming charity RABI. The Northern Farmer, sister publication of the D&S Times, recently ran a successful advertising feature that raised £500 for the charity.

And the Peacock family, of the Parlour Made Cheese Company, in Mordon, Sedgefield, has also made a generous donation to RABI. Many other Young Farmers’ Clubs in County Durham and North Yorkshire are also raising funds. It is expected to be a long-term effort as the impact of the floods for farmers throughout the South- West will be long-lasting.

Other ways of donating include through fcn.org.uk or 0845 367 9990, at addingtonfund.org.uk, and at rabi.org.uk.