An Ottery community project to sponsor the resettlement of a Syrian refugee family in the local area has reached its £10,000 target.

ABIDE, which is overseen by Ottery Parish Church, is now preparing an application to the Government in the hope it can help people from the war-torn country.

In order to apply to the Home Office for approval as a sponsoring body within its community sponsorship scheme, the group first needed to raise £10,000 towards the costs of supporting a family for a two-year period.

One anonymous donor pledged £1,000 to the scheme.

Project leader Anna Roderick said: “We are really pleased with the support we have received so far.

“We wanted to do something in particular in response to the refugee crisis.

“People are suffering and it is in our power to do something about it.

“The support has been fantastic.

“The Government created the scheme, so we decided to use it as an opportunity.

“It’s a huge undertaking, but there are enough of us who feel it’s worth it.”

The group has already found a potential home to rent in the area for the refugee family. It is looking at how to settle the refugees when they move to the UK.

The £10,000 raised by the community will be kept in a restricted fund by the parish church.

If for any reason ABIDE is not able to proceed, for example, if it is not approved as a sponsoring body, the money donated will be given to another charity working with Syrian refugees.

To donate to the cause, visit totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/otterypcc-abide