HURRICANE Ivan did not stop plans for a special Christmas on the island of Grenada.

Radcliffe fundraiser David Roberts is still making collections to help people on the devastated spot in the Caribbean.

Since September, David has worked hard to collect clothes, building materials and tools to send to people he met in Grenada on his honeymoon.

David and his wife Hayley enjoyed a two-week stay on the island in 2003 after marrying, and made friends with locals who they kept in contact with via email.

But the couple watched in horror as the hurricane struck earlier this year, destroying 90 per cent of properties on the island.

David said: "There has been a huge sense of community spirit since Ivan so those who are still homeless will also have been part of some type of celebration. The island is about 95 per cent Catholic, and since it was a British Colony, they celebrate all Christian festivals, so Christmas is pretty much the same as ours. We, as a family, have already booked to spend next Christmas and New Year there."

David is still busy collecting to help the relief effort and transporting them to a depot in Sheffield, where the local council has provided some warehouse space for as long as it is needed.

David said: "There have been so many people helping us across the country. It has been great. I have taken delivery of shower trays, toilets, baths, sinks and stainless steel kitchen sinks. These will be sent to help with the reconstruction efforts.

"The island is slowly recovering, though some parts of the island are still without electricity, but most now have running water again. There are still many people homeless and living in temporary accommodation but because of the quantity of homes which were damaged or destroyed, it will be a long time before enough new homes can be built to rehouse them."

Cruise ships have begun to call at the island again which is providing some much-needed income from the tourists. Some of the smaller hotels have managed to reopen, however it could be November 2005 before the major hotels are back in business.

David is organising more collections and needs hand tools and building materials. For more information contact David on 959 2536.

The BBC wants people of Grenadan origin thinking of returning to the island to live, to contact them for a documentary. Anyone interested, should e-mail sun@smokingdogfilms.com