THE fundraising campaign to help those affected by the New Ferry gas explosion has been boosted with a £5,000 donation from Wirral Lions Club.

The money was handed over to community group New Ferry Town Team this afternoon.

It is two weeks since the disaster and the town clear-up operation is now well underway. 

During a visit to the site this afternoon Alan Murray, president of Wirral Lions Club told the Globe: "I'm totally amazed and horrified by the devastation and really pleased that we are in a position to help the community by giving them a little bit of cash.

"We've all got to pull together and I think the communities have done that. By looking around, it's very easy to see that.

"The council has started clearing up and it's amazing to see how much work has been done already".

The New Ferry Town Team is co-ordinating a campaign to try and raise £10,000 to benefit residents and businesses to recover in the longer term.

Its chair, Labour ward councillor Warren Ward said: "I'd really like to thank the Lions Club for this donation; it will really help in the relief effort.

"The real work is now starting to rebuild the community. Three quarters of shops are now open for business and there is a real sense of community spirit".

Council officers and contractors are now carrying out detailed condition assessments of the affected buildings and start work on making the homes safe enough for owners and tenants to get access and retrieve personal belongings.

Security staff have also replaced police staff around the perimeter of site, which remains sealed off to the public for a while longer.

David Ball, Wirral's assistant director of environmental services said: "The direct contact we have had with residents and business owners has been very positive in allowing us to give them an honest, initial appraisal and answer any questions and concerns they have as best we can.

"They are aware that for many of them it could be many months before their properties are able to be occupied permanently again.

"We will keep in contact with them and let them know when we are able to take them in temporarily – we anticipate that will happen early next week".

The council and contractors are clearing areas wherever possible.

While the council moves onto this next phase of the recovery operation, the area around the site will remain closed to members of the public.

This includes keeping the affected part of Boundary Road closed to traffic until further notice.

David Ball continued: "People have been very patient and understanding so far and we expect that support to continue while we move to this next phase of the clear up.

"Everyone should be assured that we are moving closer to getting New Ferry moving and open for business again in the wake of the terrible incident on March 24 and we will get there as quickly and effectively as possible".

Investigations on site have now concluded and police are continuing to work with specialists to identify the cause of the explosion.

There will be a further update meeting for residents, traders and the wider community at St Mark's Church Hall tonight at 5.30pm.

A contact centre at New Ferry Village Hall to support affected people remains open until this Wednesday, April 12.

After that, people can access ongoing support through a variety of council services and those offered by other agencies.

The distribution of charitable donations to help New Ferry people is being co-ordinated by volunteers at Christ Church hall in Port Sunlight.

Andrew Greenhough, vicar of St Mark's church in New Ferry and member of New Ferry Town Team: "It's been quite a two weeks.

"The police have been amazing and now the place is in the council's control.

"They are doing the work, hoping to make it safe enough for the public to get through eventually. It's good.

"You just look for some way in which the community can recover and that regeneration of the community is so important.

"New Ferry really has had the rough end of the stick for such a long time and you're looking to see how something good can come out of a really big disaster".