STROUD Rotary Club held a charity fair recently to boost the funds of local groups.

The event which took place at The Hill in Stroud saw nine community groups collect cheques ranging from £500 from the proceeds of the annual Ebley Fireworks.

"We wanted to get these groups together because fundraising can be a lonely activity," said Stroud Rotary president, Jim Hutton.

"This little gathering is to show them they are not alone."

Among those who have benefited were the Willow Trust which takes disabled people out on specially adapted boats, Cancer Research Stroud which has raised £29,000 since last April and the Samaritans which is badly in need of money to support overnight volunteers since losing government grants.

Gloucestershire Air Ambulance which costs £16 a minute to fly and averages around 180 missions a month was presented with £500.

The charity needs £2.4 million a year to keep going.

"This will help save someone's life tomorrow," said Paul Weir as he accepted the cheque on behalf of the charity.

Cotswold Care Hospice told the meeting their share of the money would go towards a hoist for the day care unit to help people in and out of chairs.

Stroud Court Community Trust said money would be put into equipping holiday homes for people with autism, Uplands Care Centre described the gift as "wonderful" and said the money would go towards helping with the rebuild of their building by June.

MOBS (Mothers Offering Breastfeeding Support) which started last April in Stroud and meet weekly at St Albans Church were delighted to add to their funds.

And Michael Stevens, secretary of Stroud and Cirencester Parkinson's Disease Society said the charity would use the money for Tai Chi and exercise classes.

* A branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society is due to start up in Stonehouse next month.