Charity volunteers support emergency workers who responded to flooding incident near Tring

Forty meals were distributed to emergency workers who were responding to a flooding incident in Long Marston, near Tring, last week.

The Rapid Relief Team, a charitable organisation comprised of members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, was called out to the village on Thursday afternoon after heavy rain caused flooding to large parts of Hertfordshire.

Volunteers provided refreshments for the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue service who were working to relieve flooding in the village, the team distributed 40 meals to those working on the frontline of the incident.

The Rapid Relief Team has a long history of supporting frontline services in and around Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.

On Boxing Day last year, the team supported with a separate flooding incident in Bedfordshire, where volunteers set up and serve hot food and drinks to evacuees, the Blevac volunteer group and other response teams.

As well as supporting the emergency services, the team also provides emergency relief to those in need in the area. In July last year, the team donated food boxes to SADA, a Stevenage-based charity which supports victims of domestic abuse.

The team also has experience working with the Hatfield Constabulary, co-ordinating food parcel drop-offs to those in need.

Damon Cantley, team leader at the Rapid Relief Team Luton, said: “The Rapid Relief Team was delighted to be able to help emergency workers during this incident.

"We know how important their work is, and we share the admiration of many for these vital workers who are always there to keep us safe, rain or shine.

"Our volunteers will always be there to support the emergency services in times of need.

"A sense of community drives everything we do, and we hope that our team was able to provide some comfort and sustenance to the fire service on this occasion.”