Northwich floods: Thousands raised for Witton Church Walk School

Witton Church Walk was deluged by flood water in Storm Christoph last month, forcing the primary school to close and leaving it with a hefty bill for repairs on the horizon.

Amy Lear and Gemma Lord launched a fundraiser on behalf of the school's parent-teacher association (PTA) with the aim of raising £500.

But a GoFundMe fundraising page online has now received more than £10,800 in donations for the school – while private donations made separately take the overall total closer to £12,000.

Amy told the Guardian: "It is just absolutely amazing – it really is. Northwich has been amazing as a whole.

"The donations are not just from parents, the whole community has come together and people from other schools have donated as well."

Staff at Witton Church Walk are still evaluating the extent of last month's flood damage and counting its cost, and the PTA will be using money from the fundraiser to purchase items that need replacing.

While most children have been learning at home due to lockdown, the school had been open for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers, and eligible pupils have been learning at Memorial Court in the weeks since the floods.

The fact that so much money has been raised at a time when so many families are struggling in the pandemic has amazed Amy even more.

She said: "We set the £500 target based on each family donating £1, but some donating more if they could afford it, and others donating less.

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"We know that there are people on furlough and families who have not got much during the pandemic, so to get more than £10,000 is just outstanding."

Headteacher Kathryn Magiera told parents last month it could take up to 10 weeks for the school's ground floor to be ready to welcome children back on-site following the flood.

To donate visit gofundme.com/f/witton-church-walk-flood-fund