Tories aid NY brigade families

A COLLECTION by Conservative Party members in Mayfield has raised over 400 for the families of firefighters killed or injured in last month s New York tragedy.

Mayfield Conservatives last Saturday held a special drop-in cheese and wine event to give local people the chance to meet Wealden MP Charles Hendry.

During the event, a collection was made for the Childrens and Widows Fund - World Trade Centre. A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: The fund is managed by the New York State Professional Fire-fighters Association and will take care of families of the public employees involved in emergency services who were hurt or killed by the devastation of the World Trade Centre.

Mr Hendry said: I am very glad that Mayfield and Five Ashes Conservatives have taken this initiative. We have all been deeply affected by recent events in America and feel we want to be doing something to help. At the same time, routine matters seem to have taken a much lower importance.