BIG-hearted Chronicle readers dug deep into their pockets within hours of a campaign being launched to tackle fuel poverty in Dartmouth.

Donations came flooding in soon after our front page story hit the streets last Friday.

'We have been overwhelmed and touched at the response,' said food bank manager Dawn Shepherd.

'Donations started coming in immediately. It was instant. I was amazed.

'We have already received almost £1,000 and more is promised when people receive their fuel allowance.

'On Saturday morning, a woman rang me and said: "I read the paper, here's £200." She said she didn't need the fuel money and wanted to give it to a charity. It made her happy to donate it.'

Dawn said the food bank had been giving out emergency gas and electricity money for a month.

'The clocks going back was enough to put some people into an emergency situation,' she said.

'The fuel appeal will carry on during the winter and many people last year actually brought back the money later in the year when they could afford it.'

Among the donations was a letter containing a cheque for £100. It read: 'This is my response to Dawn Shepherd's appeal in the Chronicle for support in alleviating the fuel bills of unfortunate households in Dartmouth.'

Dawn gave a talk at Strete church on Sunday outlining the hardships suffered my many families in need in the area.

For more on this story, see this week's Dartmouth Chronicle